Using Resistance Bands to Work Your Shoulders

For years, the use of resistance bands as part of a real exercise routine has been pushed aside coldly. Images of big-haired women in tight aerobic outfits and puffy ankle socks pulling and stretching these bands while listening to the latest Olivia Newton-John song seem to solidify the stereotypical perception of a resistance-only workout.

As with anything, however, a different, more reasonable and positive use exists. Now resistance bands have become part of nearly every personal trainer's routine, and their compact, throw-me-in-a-suitcase flexibility has allowed them to grow in the at-home workout arena as a popular replacement for other types of more bulky, expensive weights.

So, with this in mind, below is a quick yet rigorous set of exercises that will burn shoulders, all of which are done with those previously hated resistance bands.

Before beginning, however, understand two things about bands: you can buy them with different levels of resistance, or you can simply shorten the one you have to increase the rigidity during exercise.

The Shoulders

Military Press: Standing up straight, step on the center of the band, widening your feet to increase the resistance. With your hands at your shoulders, stretch them up and above your head.

Upright Row: Again stepping on the band and standing up straight, place your hands with the palms facing your belt. Pull the bands up toward your chin, making sure that the elbows remain higher than your hands for the entire repetition.

Lateral Raise: Standing upright, step on the band and place your hands at the side of your hips. Raise your arms to the sides slowly away from your hips and up to the shoulders.

Anterior Raise: Stepping on the bands, place your hands with the palms facing inward at your hips. Lift them simultaneously in front of you until even with the shoulders.

Perform each of these exercises in supersets, doing one right after the other and accumulating no more than 15 reps per individual movement. Take a brief rest between supersets to hydrate and stretch. Do 3 to 5 supersets with each exercises being done between.