Shoulders are not often an area that people think to focus on when it comes to sculpting their bodies, but shoulders are worth more than they’re given credit for. If strong, toned arms are what you’re after, it’s time to focus on those shoulders! Strengthening those muscles and joints can also improve your posture, so give these exercises a try.
Lateral Raise
- Stand with your knees slightly bent and your feet staggered. Place the right foot forward and flat on the floor, with the left foot back.
- Loop a resistance band underneath the arch of the right foot, grasping it with your hands and keeping your arms at your sides.
- Raise your arms out wide until they are parallel to the floor and then slowly lower them to the original position. Perform 12 reps.
Extension Plank
- Start in a high plank with your shoulders over your wrists.
- Keeping your palms planted and arms straight, step back as far as you can while maintaining control and keeping your hips level.
- Bring your shoulders behind your hands and lower your body toward the floor.
- After having done that, reverse the movement and return to the starting position. This counts as one rep — do 10.
Halo
- Kneel on the floor with your knees slightly wider apart than your hips.
- Hold a dumbbell in both hands directly in front of your chest, with you my elbows pointing down at the sides.
- Keep both arms bent and slowly circle the dumbbell around your head and back in front of your chest. Spin it round the other way to complete a rep and perform 8 of each.
