Setup
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a barbell in front of your thighs with an overhand grip just outside your hips. Let your arms hang straight with shoulders relaxed in a fully stretched position.
How to do it
- Elevate your shoulders straight up toward your ears as high as possible without bending your elbows.
- Squeeze your traps hard at the top for a brief pause.
- Lower the weight under control back to the starting position with shoulders fully relaxed.
- Keep your head and neck neutral throughout the movement.
- Think about pulling your shoulders up and slightly back rather than rolling them.
Watch out for
- ✗Rolling the shoulders in a circular motion instead of lifting straight up and down.
- ✗Bending the elbows and turning the movement into an upright row.
- ✗Using momentum by dipping the knees or leaning forward instead of controlled lifting.