Take It From 'The Rock'-- Here Are Dwayne Johnson's Secret Tips To Building Muscle Mass

Dwayne Johnson, otherwise known as the Rock, is pretty much a God among men. Really, if someone had to play Zeus or Hercules, he's your go-to guy. Oh right, he already played Hercules and it was utterly perfect casting.

But how does The Rock stay in such amazing shape? It turns out the Rock incorporates some old school equipment into his workouts.

What do you see in that picture? Well, of course you see his insanely ripped back. You'd probably break an arm if you accidentally bumped into him. Honestly, he makes Superman look like Steve Buscemi.

Enough gushing over the Rock. Look past his physique and see that he's using chains as part of his equipment.

Chains may not look like much, but they can weigh up to 60 lbs. How the weight distributes amongst the links also effect your moves, in a great way.

Okay, that was a video about The Rock warming up to work out by playing with his dog. It was too cute to not include. But we're going to focus on the chains.

You can use chains with a variety of simple workout moves. Take a bench press, for example. If you put a chain on each end of your barbell, you've automatically added weight. So, as you push up, you'll have more resistance. But as you come down, the chains pile up on the floor and a little weight is alleviated. 

Since most people are much weaker at the bottom of the press, the chains give a bit of a break at your weakest, then make it harder as you go into the stronger portion of the move. This helps avoid injury or strain and could even prevent you accidentally dropping the bar on your chest. By going easy on the way down, you're getting a better and safer workout.

You can use chains in any move that involves raising and lowering. Deadlifts and squats have the same effect of adding weight when you need it and taking it away when you don't. Try it with a push-up. Drape a chain over your shoulder blades so that it hangs from each side, then do a push-up. You'll feel the difference and can thank The Rock for your newly ripped bod.

Chains also help with functional movement and stability. Since a chain moves unpredictably, you always have to adjust your body to find balance.

The Rock's insane physique may not be just around the corner for you, but with hard work and clever use of equipment, you'll make progress. 

Good Luck!