Chest and shoulder exercises

1. Stand facing bench or sturdy elevated platform. Place hands on edge of bench or platform, slightly wider than shoulder width.
2. Position forefoot back from bench or platform with arms and body straight. Arms should be perpendicular to body. Keeping body straight, lower chest to edge of box or platform by bending arms.
3. Push body up until arms are extended. Repeat.

How much: 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets.

1. Lie on the floor face down and place your hands about 36 inches apart while holding your torso up at arms length.
2. Next, lower yourself downward until your chest almost touches the floor as you inhale.
3. Now breathe out and press your upper body back up to the starting position while squeezing your chest.
4. After a brief pause at the top contracted position, you can begin to lower yourself downward again for as many repetitions as needed.

How much: 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets.

1. Lie down on a flat bench with a dumbbell in each hand resting on top of your thighs. The palms of your hands will be facing each other.
2. Then, using your thighs to help raise the dumbbells up, lift the dumbbells one at a time so that you can hold them in front of you at shoulder width.
3. Once at shoulder width, rotate your wrists forward so that the palms of your hands are facing away from you. The dumbbells should be just to the sides of your chest, with your upper arm and forearm creating a 90 degree angle. Be sure to maintain full control of the dumbbells at all times. This will be your starting position.
4. Then, as you breathe out, use your chest to push the dumbbells up. Lock your arms at the top of the lift and squeeze your chest, hold for a second and then begin coming down slowly. Tip: Ideally, lowering the weight should take about twice as long as raising it.
5. Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions of your training program.

How much: 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets.

1. Lie down on a flat bench with a dumbbell on each hand resting on top of your thighs. The palms of your hand will be facing each other.
2. Then using your thighs to help raise the dumbbells, lift the dumbbells one at a time so you can hold them in front of you at shoulder width with the palms of your hands facing each other. Raise the dumbbells up like you're pressing them, but stop and hold just before you lock out. This will be your starting position.
3. With a slight bend on your elbows in order to prevent stress at the biceps tendon, lower your arms out at both sides in a wide arc until you feel a stretch on your chest. Breathe in as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: Keep in mind that throughout the movement, the arms should remain stationary; the movement should only occur at the shoulder joint.
4. Return your arms back to the starting position as you squeeze your chest muscles and breathe out. Tip: Make sure to use the same arc of motion used to lower the weights.
5. Hold for a second at the contracted position and repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

How much: 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets.

1. Standing with your feet shoulder width apart, take a dumbbell in each hand. Raise the dumbbells to head height, the elbows out and about 90 degrees. This will be your starting position.
2. Maintaining strict technique with no leg drive or leaning back, extend through the elbow to raise the weights together directly above your head.
3. Pause, and slowly return the weight to the starting position.

How much: 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets.

1. Grab a couple of dumbbells and sit on a military press bench or a utility bench that has a back support on it as you place the dumbbells upright on top of your thighs.
2. Clean the dumbbells up one at a time by using your thighs to bring the dumbbells up to shoulder height at each side.
3. Rotate the wrists so that the palms of your hands are facing forward. This is your starting position.
4. As you exhale, push the dumbbells up until they touch at the top.
5. After a second pause, slowly come down back to the starting position as you inhale.

How much: 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets.

1. Pick a couple of dumbbells and stand with a straight torso and the dumbbells by your side at arms length with the palms of the hand facing you. This will be your starting position.
2. While maintaining the torso in a stationary position (no swinging), lift the dumbbells to your side with a slight bend on the elbow and the hands slightly tilted forward as if pouring water in a glass. Continue to go up until you arms are parallel to the floor. Exhale as you execute this movement and pause for a second at the top.
3. Lower the dumbbells back down slowly to the starting position as you inhale.

How much: 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets.

1. Pick a couple of dumbbells and stand with a straight torso and the dumbbells on front of your thighs at arms length with the palms of the hand facing your thighs. This will be your starting position.
2. While maintaining the torso stationary (no swinging), lift the left dumbbell to the front with a slight bend on the elbow and the palms of the hands always facing down. Continue to go up until you arm is slightly above parallel to the floor. Exhale as you execute this portion of the movement and pause for a second at the top. Inhale after the second pause.
3. Now lower the dumbbell back down slowly to the starting position as you simultaneously lift the right dumbbell.
4. Continue alternating in this fashion until all of the recommended amount of repetitions have been performed for each arm.

How much: 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets.