(Primary muscles: lower, outer, and inner pectorals plus the anterior deltoids)

Grasp the two loop handles. Stand midway between the two pulleys and set your feet about shoulder width apart. Bend slightly forward at the waist and maintain this torso angle throughout your set. Your arms should be extended upward directly toward the pulleys. Rotate the wrists so the palms are facing toward the floor and keep your arms slightly bent throughout your set. Use pectoral strength to move the handles out to the sides and downward in semicircular arcs until they meet about six inches in front of your hips. Hold your hands together to obtain a maximum contraction and then slowly return the handles back along the same arcs to the starting points.

Shaun Karp is a certified personal trainer in Vancouver. For further information call his office at 604-420-7800.