Upper Body Workout to Tone Arms

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The shoulders are important for everyday activities like carrying groceries, lifting objects and maintaining good posture. When the shoulders are weak, it can lead to issues like a limited range of motion and an increased chance of injury.

Dumbbell exercises that target the shoulders are a great way to build strength in this area, which will prevent injury and sculpt and define the upper arms.

Shoulder dumbbell exercises

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint — the type of joint that allows for the broadest range of movement. Some simple shoulder exercises can maintain your range of motion and provide a great upper-body workout after a walk or another cardio activity.

You only need one set of dumbbells. Lift lower weight and higher repetition to sculpt long, lean muscles. I use 3-pound weights, but you can go up to 5 or even 8 pounds. Start with a lower weight and then work your way up, or simply stay at the lower weight and increase your number of repetitions over time.

Hammer curls

This exercise is an alternative to traditional bicep curls and works the arm a bit differently. Hold a dumbbell in each hand and turn the arms so that palms face your body. Hug the elbows in toward your waist. Reach the weights up toward your shoulders as you keep the elbows close to the body. Lower the weights down by your sides and repeat 10 times. 

Arnold press

Stand tall with your arms hanging by your sides and hold a dumbbell in each hand. Perform a bicep curl bringing the weights up to your shoulders. Once you have reached the shoulders, rotate your palms until they are facing out and then push the weights up overhead into a shoulder press. Lower your weights back down to your shoulders, rotate your palms until they are facing you and slowly drop the weights back down to finish off your bicep curl. Repeat 10 times.

Overhead press

Holding a dumbbell in each hand, start with the arms in a goal post position. The upper arms will be parallel to the floor at shoulder height with your hands pointed up toward the ceiling. Press the weights up and in front of your head slightly so that with your peripheral vision you can see the weights above you. Be careful not to reach the weights behind your head as that will strain your neck. Lower down to the starting position, and repeat 10 times.

External rotation

Stand with your feet hip-width apart with a dumbbell in each hand. Bend the elbows at 90 degrees, and bring them up to shoulder height in front of you. Your biceps should be parallel to the floor, and your palms should face you. Keeping the elbows bent at 90 degrees, slowly pull your arms out to the sides of the room until your forearms come into a goal-post position, rotating your hands so that the weights now face the front of the room. Rotate your arms back to center flipping your palms back to face you. This is one repetition. Repeat for a total of 10 repetitions.

Upright row

Standing with your feet hip-width apart, grab a dumbbell in each hand and hold them with palms facing you. With your core engaged, slide the dumbbells up your body toward your chin by lifting the elbows to the ceiling. Lower to the starting position. Repeat for 10 repetitions.

Side extension

Hold a dumbbell in each hand. Stand with your feet as wide as your hips and reach the arms down along your sides. Pull the abs in and extend the arms straight out to the sides and up as high as the shoulders. Relax the neck. Lower the arms down to the starting position. Repeat 10 times.

Front raises

Hold a dumbbell in each hand and allow your arms to hang at your sides by your thighs. Engage your abdominal muscles, keeping your back straight. Turn your palms so that they are facing your legs. Focus on utilizing your shoulder muscles as you extend both arms out directly in front of you. Lift the weights up until your arms are shoulder height and your palms are facing down at the ground. Slowly lower the weights back down to the starting position. Do 10 repetitions.

Neutral grip shoulder press

Grab a dumbbell in each hand. Bend the elbows and bring the weights up to your shoulders, with both palms facing each other. This is your starting position. Then, extend your arms up straight up toward the ceiling. Slowly return back to the starting position. Repeat for 10 repetitions. 

Renegade rows

Before you set up in a plank position, come on to all fours and place a dumbbell on either side of you, next to your shoulders. In tabletop position grasp a dumbbell in each hand. Then push up into a plank position or a modified plank position on your knees. With your back straight and core engaged, keep your hips and shoulders square to the floor as you drive your left elbow up toward the ceiling. Lower back to starting position. Alternate arms, performing 10 repetitions on each side. 

Front raises (neutral grip)

Hold a dumbbell in each hand and allow your arms to hang at your sides by your thighs. Engage your abdominal muscles, keeping your back straight. With palms facing each other, focus on utilizing your shoulder muscles to extend one arm straight up and out directly in front of you. Lift the weight up until your arm is extended out in front of you at shoulder height. Slowly lower the weight back down to the starting position and repeat on the alternate side. Perform 10 repetitions with each arm.

Angled shoulder press

Grab a dumbbell in each hand. Bring the dumbbells to shoulder height at your sides with your elbows tucked in. Think about making a “W” shape with your arms. Then, extend your arms up straight up and out, into a “Y” shape. Slowly return back to the starting “W” position. Repeat for 10 repetitions.

Y-raises

Hold a dumbbell in each hand, allowing your arms to fall naturally to your sides. Turn your palms so that they are facing forward. With a slight bend in your elbows, raise your arms out at a diagonal and up toward the ceiling until you form a wide “Y” shape. Slowly lower back to the starting position. Repeat for 10 repetitions.