Workout of the week: 25-min shoulder strength workout

26th August 2024

ALL LEVELS / shoulder strength workout / 25 minutes

Equipment: Barbell, dumbbells & gym mat

Working on your shoulders offers numerous benefits besides the obvious one — sculpting and making them more aesthetically pleasing. Strong shoulders are crucial for overall upper body strength and are key for a wide range of activities such as pushing, pulling, lifting, and carrying. Also, they contribute to a better posture, help reduce the risk of injuries, and enhance athletic performance.

With all these benefits, you must try this shoulder strength workout. It consists of 4 exercises, with 8 reps each. You must complete 5 rounds, and you’ll have 1-minute to rest between them. All combined, this workout takes 25 minutes to complete.

  1. Barbell shoulder press
  2. Curl to shoulder press
  3. Quadruped shoulder taps
  4. Dumbbell seated z press

Ready to strengthen your shoulders?

WORKOUT SETUP

  • 4 exercises
  • 8 reps each
  • 5 rounds
  • 1-min rest between rounds
  • 25 minutes total 
  • Equipment: Barbell, dumbbells & gym mat

WORKOUT EXERCISE LIST

5 rounds

1 – Barbell shoulder press

8 reps

  • Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a barbell with a pronated (overhand) grip at upper-chest height.
  • Exhale as you push the barbell straight upward.
  • At the top of the movement, shrug your shoulders to raise the barbell even higher.
  • Inhale as you reverse the motions and lower the barbell to the starting position in a controlled manner.
  • Do not lock your elbows out; use a grip a little wider than shoulder width.
  • To move your head out of the way of the bar, rock your body slightly forward as the bar ascends and slightly backwards as the bar descends.
  • Your head should be facing forward, not looking up.
  • Keep your elbows a little forward, not directly out to the sides, and your wrists directly above your elbows.

2 – Curl to shoulder press

8 reps

  • Grab two dumbbells with adequate weight for your fitness level.  
  • Standing up straight, have the dumbbells resting at your sides with the palms facing inwards.
  • Slowly raise your forearms forward until your wrist rests above your elbow.
  • Now explosively lock out your arms and raise the dumbbells above your head.
  • Hold the position for a second and return to the starting point by reversing the motion.
  • Repeat.

3 – Quadruped shoulder taps

8 reps

  • Begin on your hands and knees, all fours — knees beneath hips and hands beneath shoulders.
  • Maintain your head in a neutral position.
  • Lift one hand off the floor and tap the opposite shoulder. Try not to shift your hips or weight.
  • Repeat the movement, but now with the other hand.
  • Repeat.

4 – Dumbbell seated z press

8 reps

  • Sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you.
  • Hold a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
  • Press the dumbbells overhead until your arms are fully extended.
  • Lower the dumbbells back to shoulder height, keeping your back straight and avoiding leaning it back.

After this shoulder strength workout, you’ll feel strong enough to choose your next workout:

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