Shoulder Exercises for Women

Often overlooked, nothing is more stunning and important to your everyday activities than strong, sculpted traps.If you carry a heavy purse, schlep bags full of groceries or tote a toddler, you depend on your traps every day. But when was the last time you included them in your workout? For too many women, the answer...

Construct some serious strength with these four variations of the shoulder press.For upper-body strength and athletic power, few moves rival the overhead press. From a functional standpoint, pressing weight overhead requires stability from floor to core while still requiring adequate shoulder movement in all directions. Overhead presses are also a staple for building the shapely curves of the anterior and medial deltoids, and...

Increase your time under tension and work the lateral and anterior delts as well as the tie-in to the chest with this double-duty shoulder move.Dumbbell Side SwingsDo this move in a slow, controlled fashion for well-rounded shoulder development.Setup: Hold a set of dumbbells with your arms extended in front of you, palms facing your thighs....

Integrate these moves into your program to improve flexibility and protect your shoulders from all angles.The shoulder is a tricky joint because it moves in multiple directions as well as in rotation. Ensuring the joint is mobile both before and after training is key to executing solid lifts and preventing injury. Integrate these moves into...

Don’t shrug off these stubborn muscles — tone your delts with this foolproof sequence.Whether you’re rocking trendy cold-shoulder blouses, have your sights set on upcoming summer tank tops or simply want the strength to lift more, doing focused moves to sculpt sexy shoulders is key. “Working your shoulders is essential to creating a V-shaped torso...

Sculpt your upper body with these powerful yet simple moves.Some of the hardest exercises I do in the gym (read: accessory work) require little to no equipment. Building a solid foundation makes other functional movements we perform every day easier and reduces risk of injury tenfold. Anytime you train, you’re teaching your body how to...

Tone up and build confidence with these four simple yet powerful arm exercises.As the weather begins to hint at sunshine and warmer temps, the realization that you will soon need to shed layers of clothing begins to set in. But are you ready to reveal your arms to the world? “It isn’t uncommon for winter...

By identifying the most effective moves for shoulder muscles, ACE hopes that you can be more efficient with your workouts and, thus, more likely to stick with them for the long term.The shoulders — the deltoids — are among the most important muscles we use in daily life. Whether we’re pushing, pulling or lifting things...