WGBJ 3 - Workout 20

Workout 20: Shoulders 

Shoulder Exercises

1. Arnold Dumbbell Press

1. Sit on the military press bench, or any utility bench that has a back support, and hold two dumbbells in front of you at about upper-chest level. Your palms should be facing your body with your elbows bent and tucked in. 
2. Next, in the middle of the movement, raise the dumbbells as you rotate your palms until they are facing forward.
3. Continue raising the dumbbells until your arms are fully extended above you.
4. After a pause at the top, begin to lower the dumbbells, rotating your palms towards you.
   
   

2. Lateral Dumbbell Raise 

1. Stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart and dumbbells aligned with your feet at arm's length. Make sure your palms are facing inward towards your sides.
2. Keep your torso stationary and raise the dumbbells to your side with a slight bend at your elbow. Lift your arms until they are slightly parallel to the ground, or around shoulder-level, and pause for a second at the top.
3. Slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.
   
   

3. Front Dumbbell Raise

1. Stand upright with your feet hip-width apart. Grasp one dumbbell with each hand so that your palms are facing inward and hands are against your thighs.
2. While keeping your torso stationary, lift the dumbbells in front of you with a straight arm or slightly bent elbow. Continue to raise the dumbbell until your arm is slightly above parallel to the ground or around shoulder-level.
3. Slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.
   
   

4. Wide Grip Smith Machine Upright Row

1. Set the bar on the smith machine to a height that is around the middle of your thighs. Grab the bar with both hands, wider than shoulder-width apart. 
2. Lift the barbell up and fully extend your arms so that your arms are straight but you’re holding the weighted bar. 
3. Use your side shoulders to lift the bar.. The bar should be close to the body as you move it up. Continue to lift it until it nearly touches your chin. Drive your elbows up towards the ceiling to ensure you’re using your shoulder. 
4. Slowly lower the bar back down slowly to the starting position. 
5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
   
   

5. Reverse Fly

1. On the reverse fly machine (which sometimes doubles as a chest fly machine), adjust the handles so that they are fully facing the rear (closest together). Adjust the seat height to make the handles at your shoulder-level. Sit on the seat with your chest against the pad and grasp the handles with your palms facing inwards. 
2. Pull your hands out to your sides and back as far as possible. This should make a semicircular motion where you should feel a stretch in your shoulders. 
3. Pause at the back of the movement, and slowly return the weight to the starting position.
   
   

7. Seated Smith Machine Shoulder Press

1. Sit on a bench with a back support directly underneath the barbell of a Smith machine. Grip the bar with a double overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart at just above shoulder height.
2. Gripping the bar as tight as possible, press it overhead until your arms are completely locked out. Pause at the top, then lower it back to the starting position.
   
   

8. Behind The Back Lateral Cable Raise

1. Reach behind your back and grab the handle firmly as the pulley is in the lowest position.
2. Maintain a slight bend in your elbow as you exhale and elevate your arm straight up to your side.
3. Raise your arm up to shoulder height and slowly return your arm back down to the starting position.
4. Allow your arm to descend deep enough to stretch your deltoid and repeat.