If you want toned arms, do your best shoulder workouts. It’ll help you build muscle, so your shoulders look fuller. Exercise for your shoulders will strengthen the muscles in that area, which will help prevent future injuries because those joints, in particular, are very mobile. Also, if you spend a lot of time on your phone or at your computer during work, doing these shoulder exercises can be very useful.
8 Best Shoulder Workouts to Try
Your shoulders and neck hunch over, which can help restore them to a normal position and, in time, can relieve any pains you have in that area. Here are some exercises you should try out to get your shoulders in shape.
1. Reverse Fly
A reverse fly is good for the back of the deltoid muscle. Pick up some dumbbells and stand with your feet apart. Then bend forward till you’re at a 45-degree angle, and keep your core relatively tight, but don’t keep your arms too stiff. Lift the weights to the side until they align with your shoulders while exhaling.
Don’t swing the weights; use your shoulders to lift the dumbbells. Inhale as you slowly bring the dumbbells down again. Don’t move your torso when you move your arms; hold yourself in more or less the same position.
2. Side Lateral Raise
Stand upright for the side lateral raise, holding dumbbells to your sides or slightly to the front of your body. Then slowly raise the weights to shoulder height, with your elbows slightly bent. Bring them down again. Don’t rely on momentum; make sure your body is doing the work. Also, don’t pick weights that are too heavy for you because it might result in injury, and you won’t benefit from the best shoulder workouts.
3. Kneeling Shoulder Press
Kneel on your right knee with your left leg bent 90 degrees and the foot flat on the ground. Keep your left hand to your side, and hold the dumbbell just above the shoulder with your right hand. Lift it until your arm is straight, then bring it back down again. After 10 or 20 presses, switch to your left hand, and keep going as long as you’re comfortable.
4. Dumbbell Shrug
This is a good exercise for the trapezius muscles and will help relieve tension in the spinal area. Stand with your feet apart, holding dumbbells in both hands to your side. Without bending the arms, shrug your shoulders, going up as high as possible. Aim for the ears, even if that’s not possible. Exhale while you shrug upwards and breathe in as you go downward.
5. Shoulder Tap
This exercise doesn’t require equipment. Take the push-up position with your palms and toes on the ground and your body held up (plank position), and keep your feet wide. Lift your right hand and tap the left shoulder. Then put the hand down and lift your left hand to tap the right shoulder. You can continue this for a few rounds.
6. Side Plank
Here is the guide to a perfect plank. Lie on your right side, lifting yourself with your right arm, which should be flat on the floor till the elbow. Keep your left hand on your hip. Your hip should be parallel to the floor. Try and stay in this position for at least 30 seconds, and then you can switch to the other side.
7. Lying Side Lateral Raise
The lying lateral raise is the best shoulder workouts, too. Sit on an incline bench at a 45-degree angle. Hold on to the bench with one hand, and with the hand on the outside, hold a dumbbell at your hip with your elbow out. Slowly move the weight to the side and upwards (not higher than your shoulder). Try and hold it for a few seconds, then bring your arm down again.
8. Dumbbell Raise
This is a more basic one. Stand holding dumbbells and with your feet apart. Keep your elbows straight and the dumbbells in front of you, hanging down. Lift them to shoulder height, then open your arms outwards, but don’t change the position of your fists. Bring them down again, and repeat.
Well, if you have dumbbells at your home, this can be a best shoulder workouts. Remember always to warm up before you take on these best shoulder workouts. Your shoulders and arms should be toned in no time!
