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Exercise guide
Bodyweight Lateral Raise
A shoulder isolation movement performed without equipment to develop lateral deltoid width.
What this exercise works
- Muscles
- lateral deltoid · anterior deltoid · trapezius
- Goals
- hypertrophy
- Equipment
- No equipment
- Category
- Strength
- Difficulty
- beginner
Demonstration
Step 1
Step 2
How to perform the movement
- Stand upright with arms hanging at your sides.
- Raise both arms out to the sides with a slight elbow bend until parallel with the floor.
- Pause briefly at the top.
- Lower slowly back to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired reps.
Technique cues and common mistakes
- Lead with your elbows, not your hands.
- Avoid shrugging your shoulders at the top.
- Control the descent to maximize time under tension.