Exercise of the Week♡ "Shrugs"

Dumbbell Shrugs

The dumbbell shrug is a great exercise to strengthen and develop the trapezius muscle. The trapezius muscle is that triangular looking muscle on the upper back that gives body builders that powerful posture.

This is a pretty simple exercise to do. Simply pick up a couple of dumbbells and shrug your shoulders up and down. However, this exercise still has to be done right in order for it to be effective.

You can perform this exercise with dumbbells, barbells, or a universal machine. It's a pretty versatile exercise.When preforming shrugs with a barbell you will grab barbell hands shoulder with apart and raise barbell upwards towards the ears, pausing then lowering weight just as you do if you are using dumbbells.

I really love this exercise and I always enjoy using heavy dumbbells when doing dumbbell shrugs. To me the heavier I go the better it feels. I will go a bit lighter when doing barbell shrugs. I love feeling and seeing all my muscles tighten as I lifted upward holding, squeezing the weight before releasing. For the women out there that think this is only a man's exercise? It's not. It is for us women as well and needed if you want your overall symmetry to be balanced. The taps tie into the upper back and shoulders, and with out the development and strengthening of your trapezoid muscle it will look unbalanced. Symmetry and balance is key to creating the perfect physic. Example: You wouldn't just work out your biceps and not workout your triceps, or your quads and not your hamstrings..would you? Same goes for your traps. All your muscles tie into each other to create beautiful balance.

1. Stand straight with your feet planted firmly with a shoulder width stance. Your knees should be slightly bent.

2. Grasp two dumbbells with your hands spaced shoulder length apart. Keep the weight held at straight arms length with a slight bend in your arms.

Execution of the shrug

1. Raise the dumbbells upwards toward the ears, pause, and lower the weight. Repeat. This exercise can also be performed with a barbell or a universal machine bench press.  
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