Step 1: Set your dumbbells on the floor, in the dumbbell rack or on a platform that will allow for easy access.
Step 2: After setting up the weights you will use for the exercise, pick the dumbbells up and hold them at your sides with your palms facing your body. Keep your feet firmly on the floor, pinch your shoulder blades together and make sure your back is tight. When grasping the dumbbells, wrap your thumbs around the dumbbells tightly. Wrist straps and chalk may also be used.
Step 3: Keeping your legs and back tight, shrug the dumbbells up in as straight of a line as possible. Focus on your traps and concentrate on pulling them up. NOTE: Do not roll your shoulders forward or backward AT ALL during this movement. Doing so increases the risk of injury.
Step 4: After shrugging the dumbbells up, lower them to your sides, exhaling once they reach their starting position.
Step 5: Take another breath between reps, exhaling only when reps are completed. Repeat until the desired reps are reached and then set the dumbbells down. Heavier dumbbells can be used.
Benefits:
Shrugs are an excellent movement for developing your trap muscles and, to a lesser extent, your shoulder muscles. Shrugs allow you to handle a heavy amount of weight and really focus on your hard to reach trap and upper back muscles.
Shrugs can also be beneficial for helping you increase strength and power at the top of the deadlift in the lockout position. Stronger traps also help you increase your bench press and other upper-body movements.
Step 1: Pick up the dumbbells off the floor or off the rack using a neutral grip (palms facing in). When grasping the dumbbell, wrap your thumbs around it tightly. Sit down on an incline bench so your face is facing the bench (the opposite way of an incline press). The dumbbells should be at your sides. Step 2: Keeping your knees slightly...
Step 1: Pick up one dumbbell off the floor or off the rack using a neutral grip (palms facing in). When grasping the dumbbell, wrap your thumbs around it tightly. The dumbbell should be directly in front of you (with your palms still facing in). Step 2: Keeping your knees slightly bent, your arms slightly bent and your lower back tight and...
Step 1: Pick up the dumbbells off the floor or off the rack using a neutral grip (palms facing in). When grasping the dumbbell, wrap your thumbs around it tightly. The dumbbells should be directly in front of you and touching (with your palms still facing in). Step 2: Keeping your knees slightly bent, your arms slightly bent and your lower...
Step 1: Pick up the dumbbells off the floor or off the rack using a neutral grip (palms facing in). When grasping the dumbbell, wrap your thumbs around it tightly. The dumbbells should be directly in front of you and touching (with your palms still facing in). Step 2: Keeping your knees slightly bent, your arms slightly bent and your lower...
Step 1: Pick up the dumbbells off the floor or off the rack using a neutral grip (palms facing in). When grasping the dumbbell, wrap your thumbs around it tightly. The dumbbells should be directly in front of you and touching. With the vertical dumbbell front raise, your palms will be facing each other throughout the entire movement. Step 2...
Step 1: Pick up the dumbbells off the floor or off the rack using a neutral grip (palms facing in). When grasping the dumbbell, wrap your thumbs around it tightly. The dumbbells should be directly in front of you and touching (with your palms now facing your body). Step 2: Keeping your knees slightly bent, your arms slightly bent and your...
Step 1: Pick up the dumbbells off the floor or off the rack using a neutral grip (palms facing in). When grasping the dumbbell, wrap your thumbs around it tightly. The dumbbells should be directly in front of you and touching (with your palms now facing your body). Step 2: Keeping your knees slightly bent, your arms slightly bent and your...
Step 1: After loading weights on an EZ-Curl bar, pick up the bar with a double overhand grip (palms facing you). Keep a close grip to ensure shoulder safety, placing your hands inside the curved portion of the bar. The bar should be at thigh level and will remain close to your body throughout the movement. Step 2: Keeping your knees and...
Step 1: Place dumbbells at the end of the bench, by your feet, and then pick the dumbbells off the floor using a neutral grip (palms facing in) and, as you sit down on the bench, place the end of the dumbbell on each knee. When grasping the dumbbell, wrap your thumbs around it tightly Step 2: Lift up each leg to give the dumbbells momentum...
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