(Primary muscles: upper traps)

Take a shoulder-width over-grip on a barbell. Stand upright with your arms straight and the barbell resting across the upper thighs. Use your trapezius strength to shrug your shoulders upward and backward as far as possible. Hold and then lower back to the starting point.

Note: This can also be performed with dumbbells.

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