Setup
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand with palms facing your thighs. Let your arms hang straight down in front of your body with a slight bend in your elbows.
How to do it
- Pull the dumbbells straight up along your body, leading with your elbows until they reach shoulder height
- Keep the dumbbells close to your torso throughout the entire movement
- Drive your elbows up and out to the sides, keeping them higher than your wrists
- Pause briefly at the top when your elbows are at shoulder level
- Lower the dumbbells back down with control to the starting position
Watch out for
- ✗Pulling the elbows too high above shoulder level, which can cause shoulder impingement
- ✗Using momentum by swinging the body or leaning backward instead of controlled lifting
- ✗Allowing the dumbbells to drift away from the body instead of keeping them close