Primary Muscle: Traps
Equipment: Dumbbell
Level: Beginner
Purpose: To target the trapezius muscle. By using dumbbells, you can keep the weights at your side and contract the traps to a greater extent.
Execution: Standing with your feet shoulder width apart, grab a dumbbell in each hand and hold them at either side of your body. Keeping your body upright, shrug your shoulders up trying to touch your ears. Squeeze your traps at the top of each rep before slowly lowering the weights to the start position. Lift the weight in a controlled fashion, avoiding the use of momentum, and allow the weight to stretch your traps all the way down on each rep.