How to Do the Zyzz Pose & Take an Epic Bodybuilding Pic (With Expert Tips)

Trend expert Shayan Faraz breaks down the Zyzz pose & its origins

Co-authored by Shayan Faraz and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: February 18, 2026 Fact Checked

• What is the Zyzz pose?
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• How to Do It
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• Why It's Popular
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• Taking a Zyzz Pose Pic
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• About Zyzz
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• Video

|Show more |Show less

In the early 2000s, before TikTok dances and trends, the Zyzz pose–a bodybuilding pose that showed off your body–took the internet by storm. The Zyzz pose is currently seeing a resurgence thanks to modern gym influencers. In this article, we work with trend expert Shayan Faraz and headshot photographer Martin Bentsen to explain what the Zyzz pose is, how to do it and take a good picture, and more! Read on to learn everything you need to know.

The Zyzz Pose Explained

Trend expert Shayan Faraz says that the Zyzz pose is a bodybuilding pose popularized by the late bodybuilder and model Aziz Shaversian. To do the Zyzz pose, Faraz says to stand up straight, turn to the side, flex one arm above your head, and curl the other towards your head to show off your bicep.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

What is the Zyzz pose?

1. 
   The Zyzz pose is a way to show off your body and muscle definition. According to Faraz, “The Zyzz pose is a bodybuilding pose popularized by the late bodybuilder and model Aziz Shaversian.” It involves flexing one of your arms and raising the other towards the sky to show off your bicep. The Zyzz pose also shows off your chest and abs, which are exposed when you raise your arms.

   • Faraz says, “The pose became very popular in gym culture online thanks to Zyzz’s charisma and charming persona when posing.”

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Shayan Faraz, known online as Chum, is a trend expert and content creator who breaks down the business of cultural trends. He has over 35,000 followers and over 7 million likes on TikTok.

   Martin Bentsen is an Acting Coach & Headshot Photographer who focuses on professional headshots and assisting actors. He has shot over 6,000 headshots for City Headshots.
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Do the Zyzz Pose

1. 
   Flex one arm above your head and curl the other to show off your bicep. Faraz says, “To do the [Zyzz] pose, you have to stand straight, turn to the side, and flex one arm above your head and the other in a way that shows off your bicep.” Typically, the bicep arm is curled up towards your head. Slightly spread your legs and pop your hip to better frame your upper body, and look up as you raise your arms.

   • When you raise the first arm above your head, stick two fingers out towards the sky like a peace sign, then stick your thumb out to the side to complete the pose.
   • Some variations of the Zyzz pose have you close the fist of the arm you’re curling. Others have you extend your arms out slightly, like an archer.

Section 3 of 5:

Why is the Zyzz pose so popular?

1. 
   1
   The pose was initially popular due to Zyzz’s charisma and physique. When Zyzz was still alive, he would happily hit the pose in photos and videos while he was in the gym or at raves, popularizing it among his audience. According to Faraz, “When Zyzz unexpectedly passed away due to heart complications in 2011, his pose became further cemented as a way to commemorate one of the first major influencers in the online space.”
2. 
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   It's popular today due to modern gym influencers paying homage. Faraz says that “The pose has also gained popularity in recent years with fitness influencers because it emphasizes the ‘aesthetic’ aspects of one’s upper body and physique, which is optimal for a social media ‘mirror selfie’ photo.” With the rise of #GymTok, the Zyzz pose was quickly adopted by gym influencers who wanted to pay homage to the bodybuilder, which helped spread the pose to a new generation of lifters.

   • TikTok Example: Sam Salek played a big role in helping popularize the Zyzz pose when he did it in a video. @samsulek_dailyclips uploaded a clip of him doing the pose to TikTok on March 1, 2024, which reached 1.7 million likes.
   • TikTok Example: On February 24, 2025, gym influencer @reyesharla posted a TikTok of herself doing the Zyzz pose, showing how much Zyzz has made an impact on bodybuilders.
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Section 4 of 5:

How to Take Good Pictures of Your Zyzz Pose

1. 1
   Practice the Zyzz pose in the mirror. You won’t get the perfect Zyzz pose on the first try, but the more you practice, the better you’ll get at posing. Set some time aside in your day to practice your Zyzz pose in front of a mirror so you can figure out where to refine your form and boost your confidence. Try practicing the pose after your workout so you can show off that post-gym pump.
2. 2
   Opt for lighting that shows off your muscle definition. Look for natural light from a window or soft light from a mirror that doesn’t obscure your technique. When you turn to the side, make sure you’re body is slightly facing the light so it shows off your muscles.

   • According to Bentsen, it’s important to keep the direction the light is coming from and how soft that light is in mind if you want to ensure that the photo turns out well.
3. 3
   Set up a tripod and take a timed photo. The timed photo will give you time to frame yourself in the camera and get your pose down. The tripod will ensure that the photo isn’t blurry, and you’ll also be able to adjust the height to show off specific parts of your body. For example, you can raise the tripod if you don’t want to show your legs, or you can move it back if you want to show your whole body.
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Section 5 of 5:

Who was Zyzz?

1. 
   Aziz Shaversian (better known as Zyzz) is a late bodybuilding YouTuber. According to Faraz, “Zyzz had a very strong following on YouTube in the [early] 2000s and was considered one of the first major bodybuilding influencers.” Zyzz gained a large audience due to his motivational gym videos and funny home videos, where he showcased his lively personality and provided fun, relatable content for viewers (both old and new). He also popularized the Zyzz pose.

   • His videos started to see viral fame in 2008, building Zyzz a cult following where he became widely known for his bulky physique, his dedication to lifting and achieving personal goals, and his charming personality.
   • Aside from bodybuilding videos, Zyzz also uploaded videos where he danced at raves, told stories about his life, and filmed skits with friends.
   • Zyzz unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack in 2011. He was 22 years old.
   • Zyzz’s autopsy revealed that he had an underlying congenital heart defect and an enlarged heart, which contributed to his death. He had a family history of heart issues.

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