Tighten + Tone Tuesday

Happy Tighten + Tone Tuesday! Last week we shared the frontal shoulder raise. This week, we're reviewing the form for the lateral shoulder raise.  You should be able to lift the same weight with this exercise. Find your dumbbells and check your form with us!

Step One:  Hold your dumbbells so that they are by your sides and your palms face each other. Bend your knees slightly and make sure your feet are about shoulder-width apart.  Tighten your abs for stability.  Tighten your shoulder blades by pulling them down and back.

Step Two:  Exhale and raise your dumbbells to shoulder height. As you raise the weights, make sure your elbows and upper arm are higher than your wrists and hands.  When your hands are at shoulder height, turn your thumbs upward slightly.  Do NOT lock your elbows. Keep a slight bend in them even at the top of the movement. Keep your wrists neutral and pause for a count a the top (arms parallel to the ground).

Step Three: Inhale and slowly lower your dumbbells back to their starting position.  Rotate your thumbs slightly down as you lower your weights. Make sure your abs stay tight so that your body is stable throughout the move.

Here is your visual:

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Have you tried this exercise? What do you think? Share your comments with us by posting in the space below: