Shoulder exercises are an important part of a full-body workout, and should be done by both men and women. While men will work to develop broader, stronger shoulders, women will focus on exercises that tone the area without adding bulk. Before getting started, it’s a good idea to chat to the fitness team at your favourite Club to learn about the best shoulder exercises for your body.

Shoulder exercises with dumbbells are some of the most effective. Generally, men will do fewer reps with heavier weights, while women do more reps with lighter weights. There are also many shoulder exercises without weights, which are ideal for anyone who is looking to simply tone this area, or anyone who has an injury they don’t want to aggravate.

Below, learn more about shoulder exercises for men and women, and then get started with these simple workouts the next time you hit the Health Club.

Shoulder exercises for men

There are plenty of shoulder exercises than men can do. One of the most popular is the standing dumbbell upright rowing, which is illustrated in detail here. This exercise targets the deltoid and lateral muscles for wider and stronger shoulders.

There are many other highly effective shoulder exercises for men that target different muscle groups. Using barbells, the Smith machine, plate-loaded and selectorised levers, cables and dumbbells, you can perform different types of shoulder exercises that target the anterior deltoid, lateral deltoid, posterior deltoid and supraspinatus.

Be sure to design a well-rounded shoulder workout that targets all these muscles equally. Any of the fitness team members at your Virgin Active Health Club will be happy to assist you, and can help you work out an exercise routine that works each muscle group effectively.

Shoulder exercises for women

There are many exercises that women can do to strengthen their shoulders without adding bulk to their frames. Before getting started, speak to the fitness team at your nearest Virgin Active Health Club for help in designing the ideal shoulder workout.

Using exercise equipment such as dumbbells and exercise balls will help you to target this area. You can also use workout machinery to tone and strengthen your shoulders.

Some of the most effective shoulder workouts for women include: The overhead press, which works the major muscles of this area; front, rear and side raises, to tone your upper back, as well as each individual part of the shoulders; and upright rows or rotations, which focus on exercising the rotator cuff. For rotator cuff exercises, lighter weights are recommended, and anyone suffering from injury or strain may consider avoiding these exercises altogether.

As for men, women should also ensure that they develop a balanced shoulder workout routine in order to exercise each section equally.

Get a great shoulder workout at your nearest Virgin Active Health Club.

Check out the shoulder exercise equipment at Virgin Active next time you visit. If you need help using the machinery, our fitness team will be glad to assist you. Find your closest Virgin Active Health Club now, or head down to your Club today to start working on the stronger, leaner or broader shoulders you want.
 

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