(Primary muscles: posterior deltoids)

Grasp two dumbbells and lie facedown on a 30-45 degree incline bench. The dumbbells should be hanging straight down from your shoulders with your palms facing each other. Use your rear deltoid strength to raise the dumbbells out to the sides until they are slightly above the level of your shoulder joint. Hold this peak contracted position and then slowly lower the dumbbells back along the same arcs to the starting position.

Note: Periodically, change the angle of the incline bench to stress the posterior deltoids differently.

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