How to do it
Plant both feet flat on the floor with your weight evenly distributed.
- 1
Sit on an incline bench facing forward, with a dumbbell in each hand.
- 2
Let your arms hang straight down at your sides.
- 3
Shrug your shoulders straight up towards your ears, keeping your arms extended.
- 4
Hold the contraction at the top for a moment.
- 5
Lower your shoulders back down to the starting position.
- 6
Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Expert tip
Avoid rolling your shoulders, as this can cause unnecessary strain. Instead, focus on a straight up-and-down movement.
Common mistakes
- ✕Bending the elbows as you shrug up
- ✕Rocking the torso to bounce the weight up
- ✕Hyperextending the neck backward