How to Tone Shoulders Using an Elastic Exercise Band

Do these exercises without breaking a sweat on a lunch break.

Strong, sculpted shoulders are one of the best accessories you can have. They make your clothes fit better, your waist look thinner and--on a more practical note--help you resist sports and athletic injuries by keeping your entire body in a better balance. If you want to get strong shoulders without creating huge shoulder muscles, you should consider adding an elastic exercise band to your shoulder workout routine. These bands do not require a spotter and nearly eliminate problems related to free weight shoulder exercises such as rotator cuff tears and dislocations. Furthermore, these exercises can be done in as little as 15 minutes in the comfort of your own home or office, making them ideal for a workout on the go.

Things You'll Need

• Elastic exercise band
• Straight backed chair

Instructions

How to Tone Shoulders Using an Elastic Exercise Band

1. Do all shoulder exercises at a low resistance at least 60 times. To tone muscles, you must subject them to repetitive motion without tearing or straining the muscle. Tears cause the muscles to grow in size as they heal, while easier movements create a sculpted, defined look without prominent veins or bulging.

2. 

   Stand on the band with your arms at your sides. Your feet should be about shoulder width apart and you should have a handle in each hand. Do not clench your fists, but be sure you have a firm grip on the handle.

3. Raise your hands in front of you so that your arms are parallel to the ground. Do not lock your elbows, but do keep your arms as straight as possible in order to focus the exercise on your shoulders. You can repeat this motion as many times as you wish.

4. Sit on the chair with your feet flat on the floor. Your back should be straight, but do not tense your back muscles or shoulders.

5. Wrap the exercise band underneath the chair. Make sure that you have equal lengths of cord on both sides and that you have a firm grip on the handles.

6. 

   Extend your arms fully above your head. Keep your feet on the ground and your stomach tucked in. No part of your body except your arms should be in motion.

7. Return your hands to shoulder level. You can repeat this exercise as many times as you want. Focus on your shoulder muscles while you do this exercise and envision them becoming more defined with each repetition.

Tips & Warnings

• To increase the resistance on your elastic exercise band, loop the cord around your hands until the exercise is as difficult as you desire.

• If you feel pain or discomfort in your elbows or shoulders while doing these exercises, reduce the resistance immediately. If the pain persists, contact your physician.

Resources

• Here are more suggestions for exercises you can do outside the gym to sculpt and tone your shoulders.