Side Lateral Raise

Also called lateral raise, side raise and lat raise.

Works

Shoulders

Equipment

Dumbbells

Level

Beginner

Type

Isolation

How to do it

Setup. Pick a couple of dumbbells and stand with a straight torso and the dumbbells by your side at arms length with the palms of the hand facing you. This will be your starting position.

1. While maintaining the torso in a stationary position (no swinging), lift the dumbbells to your side with a slight bend on the elbow and the hands slightly tilted forward as if pouring water in a glass. Continue to go up until you arms are parallel to the floor. Exhale as you execute this movement and pause for a second at the top.
2. Lower the dumbbells back down slowly to the starting position as you inhale.
3. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Cues

• Slight bend in the elbow, lead with the elbows.
• Up to shoulder height, no higher.
• Pinkies a touch high.
• Lower slowly.

Common mistakes

• Swinging the weight up.
• Shrugging the traps.

Where to start

A starting point, not a law. Pick a weight you could lift two or three more times than the top of the range. Tempo is seconds down, pause, up. When every set hits the top of the range, add a little weight.