View 6 slides

10 Shoulder Exercises That Will Sculpt Your Arms Like Crazy

One of the most overlooked but crucial parts of upper body strength is the shoulder. While it may not seem like an area that needs focus, having strong shoulders can help keep you from getting injured while doing other exercises. From yoga to weight lifting, shoulder strength helps to keep you stable and secure. Strong shoulders also help with posture. Long hours driving or hunched over a computer can make your shoulders curl forward over time. So retraining your shoulders with exercise is crucial to good posture and the forward progression of any workout regimen. The key to developing strong shoulders is to focus on all the muscles that wrap around the shoulder, which include the deltoids, traps, lats, and rotator cuff. The shoulder muscles are very delicate and it is a good idea to start off slow. One-shoulder workout per week is a good start, and these exercises will still be effective if you begin with something light such as resistance bands or small weights.

With the knowledge of how important shoulder strength is, now is a great time to start incorporating exercises that focus on shoulders. The following exercises utilize dumbbells, Bosu balls, and resistance bands. For a quick 25 minute workout, you can move through all the exercises listed below, with three sets of reps for each workout. If you’re ready to get started, check out these 10 shoulder exercises that will sculpt your arms like crazy.

Upright Row

This exercise starts in a standing position, with both feet under the hips. Keeping the legs straight, hold dumbbells in your hands with the palms facing inward towards the body and the weights resting on your quads. Lift the elbows wide while pulling the dumbbells up towards the chest. Repeat for 15 reps.