Lateral Raises

How to Perform

1. Stand with dumbbells at your sides, slight bend in your elbows
2. Lead with your elbows and raise arms out to the sides until parallel with the floor
3. Hold the top position for 1 second
4. Lower with control over 2-3 seconds — don’t just drop them

Tips

• Lead with your elbows, not your hands — imagine pouring water from a jug at the top position
• No dumbbells? Cable lateral raises provide constant tension, or use resistance bands anchored under your feet
• Use a slow 3 second descent and controlled 2 second raise — swinging momentum is the number one mistake
• Using too much weight and turning it into a shrug is the most common beginner error — go lighter than you think
• Focus on feeling the burn in the lateral (side) part of your shoulder, not in your traps or front delts

Essential Equipment

Equipment	Why You Need It	Our Pick	Review
Adjustable Dumbbells	Light weights with small increments suit this isolation exercise	Bowflex SelectTech 552	Read Review
Resistance Bands	Great alternative for constant tension lateral raises at home	Fit Simplify Resistance Bands	Read Review