Part 2 of shoulder raises

Hey there, here we are again on the topic of shoulders. Whether you’re a serious bodybuilder or just want to fill out your clothes better now that shoulder pads are out of fashion, you’ve come to the right place. In my last article I covered presses and as you see from the title, this time I’m going to tell you a little about raises for working out your shoulders.

Raises work the deltoids and are a great compliment to presses when you want to build up your shoulders. Raises incorporate the element of isolation, meaning you may want to use a little less weight than you are used to using. Don’t worry, you’ll still get good results. Each of these exercises works a different part of the deltoids: front, side and back.

Front Dumbbell Raises:

While standing, hold a dumbbell at each side, your palms turned inward to face your body. Lift one dumbbell up in a sweeping motion until it is over your head. Lower this dumbbell to the starting position while lifting the other dumbbell and repeat.

This is a simple, yet still a very effective exercise for the front deltoids.

Standing Dumbbell Lateral Raises:

With a dumbbell in each hand bend forward 45 degrees. Let the dumbbells hang at arm’s length; palms facing each other. While bent over, lift the dumbbells out to either side. Slowly return to beginning position and repeat.

Bent Over Lateral Raises:

Standing, dumbbells in hand, bend at a 45 degree angle. Your dumbbells should be at arms length and palms facing each other. Keep in this position while lifting the dumbbells out to your sides. Slowly return to beginning position and repeat.

Whew! These exercises will be a little challenging if you haven’t done any shoulder workouts before, but they will get results for you, guaranteed. Well, you’ve got some work ahead of you and as for myself: I’m off to the gym! Until next time!