Side raises

COURTESY OF GLOBAL FITNESS

Major muscles used

• Deltoids (Side)
• Trapezius

Performing side raises

• Stand upright, arms at your sides, holding a dumbbell in each hand, with palms facing toward body and elbows slightly bent.
• Your feet should be about hip-width apart.
• Keep your shoulders back, chest out and back straight with a slight forward lean.
• Raise both dumbbells outward, away from your sides until they are slightly above shoulder level, hold for a brief second. Your palms should be facing the floor and you should have a slight bend in the elbows.
• Return to the starting position in a slow, controlled manner.

Be careful

• Don't use such heavy weights that you can't use good, proper form. The weights for this exercise should be light.
• Don't swing the weights up and then merely drop them down to the starting position. Move in a slow, controlled manner.

Alternative exercises to side raises

• Upright rowing (Dumbbells)
• Upright rowing (Barbell)

Courtesy of Global-Fitness.com, your Online Personal Trainer

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