July 2019

Try this exercise as part of a regular routine for upper body strength.

1. Grab two dumbbells, one in each hand.

2. Stand with your feet slightly less than shoulder width apart.

3. Hold the dumbbells at the top of your thighs. Keep your arms extended with a slight bend at the elbows and your back straight. This is the starting position.

4. Lift the weights as you exhale. Keep the weights close to the body as you lift them and let the elbows drive the motion. Continue to lift them until they are close to touching your chin. Always keep your elbows higher than your forearms and keep your abdominal muscles tight.

5. Pause at the top of the movement.

6. Lower the dumbbells back down slowly to the starting position.

7. Repeat for the exercise for 10 repetitions, then two or three sets of 10. 

Be careful with how much weight you use when starting this exercise. Too much weight can lead to bad form and cause an injury to the shoulder.

Adapted from https://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/standing-dumbbell-upright