4 Exercises That Will Help Widen Your Shoulders

Most people usually prefer wider shoulders because they make you look more proportionate. They widen the appearance of the upper body and give an inverted triangle shape with a narrower waist. Athletes usually have wider shoulders. They make you appear more square than round and stronger because there's lots of muscle mass in the upper body. Having wider shoulders makes it easier for one to lift heavy objects and play sports. They also reduce the incidence of injury while exercising. 

Generally, you should stand up straight in order to improve the appearance of your shoulders. In order to improve your posture, you can open your chest and draw shoulders back downwards towards your spine. Not only does this make you look and feel more confident, but also helps in boosting your mood.

Here are some exercises which can help you achieve wider shoulders:

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1. Lateral raise

For doing lateral raise, hold dumbbells on the side and bend a little forwards and make sure your back is flat. Slowly lift the weights up to your shoulder level. Bend your elbows slightly and tilt your hands forward while doing this exercise. Hold on the position for a few seconds and lower your arms back down. Do 3-4 sets of 10-15 reps.
 

Photo Credit: iStock

Also read: Try These 5 Effective Kettlebell Exercises For Weight Loss

2. Dumbbell front raise

For doing dumbbell front raise, stand straight with a dumbbell in each hand. Put your hands in front of you and palms facing downwards. Do not move your lower body and lift dumbbells up and lower them down. You elbow should bend slightly. Raise your hands until they are slightly higher than at a parallel level to the floor. Pause for a few seconds while raising and then slowly lower your arms down. You can 16-20 reps for 2-3 sets.

Photo Credit: iStock

3. 45-degree incline row

Incline a bench to 45 degrees and lie on your stomach. Put your hands down straight with a dumbbell in each hand. Squeeze your shoulder blades together as your bend your elbows while lifting your arms. The upper arm should be perpendicular to the body. Pause when at top of the movement and slowly lower down to the starting position. You can perform 6-12 reps for 2-3 sets.

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4. Over shoulder press

For doing over shoulder press, stand up straight with dumbbells or a barbell in your hands. Hold the weight above upper chest, while placed a little wider than shoulder width. Raise weights straight up towards the ceiling and keep your elbows drawn in. Maintain strength in your core, lower back and legs for balance. Slowly lower the arms down to come back to the starting position. Do 2-3 sets of 5-8 reps of this exercise for optimum results.