Anterior Raise - Seated Upright Dumbbell Forward Alternate

Recommendations: 2-3 Sets, 8-12 Reps, 20-40 Wght

Beginner Rear Shoulders Traps Strength Dumbbell Flat Bench Pull Gym

Purpose: This exercise strengthens the front deltoid muscle area.

Benefits: This exercise isolates and strengthens the anterior delt muscle. Alternating the exercise from side to side allows you to focus more on each specific muscle group.

Sit on a supine (flat) bench. Hold the dumbbells with an overhand grip in front of your body (palms facing down). Your arms should be parallel. This is the starting position. Keeping your shoulders down (do not shrug them) and your elbows slightly bent, raise the right dumbbell straight up toward shoulder level. As the dumbbell reaches shoulder level, rotate it as if you are pouring water from a pitcher to increase the effectiveness of the exercise. Exhale during this movement. Lower the dumbbell slowly to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Hold the dumbbells with an overhand grip in front of your body (palms facing down). Your arms should be parallel. Keeping your shoulders down (do not shrug them) and your elbows slightly bent, raise the left dumbbell straight up toward shoulder level. As the dumbbell reaches shoulder level, rotate it as if you are pouring water from a pitcher to increase the effectiveness of the exercise. Exhale during this movement. Lower the dumbbell slowly to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Hold the dumbbells with an overhand grip in front of your body (palms facing down). Your arms should be parallel. Repeat for the required number of repetitions.


The anterior (front) deltoid or shoulder is one of the three distinct heads of the deltoid anatomy. It raises the arm toward the front and rotates the arm inward.

Step 1

While standing, grasp dumbbells, in front of your body, palms facing down, arms parallel.

anterior-raise-seated-upright-dumbbell-forward-alternate-step-0

Sit on a supine (flat) bench. Hold the dumbbells with an overhand grip in front of your body (palms facing down). Your arms should be parallel. This is the starting position.

Step 2

Keep your shoulders down while raising the right dumbbell to shoulder level. Rotate the arm inward as if you are pouring water.

anterior-raise-seated-upright-dumbbell-forward-alternate-step-1

Keeping your shoulders down (do not shrug them) and your elbows slightly bent, raise the right dumbbell straight up toward shoulder level. As the dumbbell reaches shoulder level, rotate it as if you are pouring water from a pitcher to increase the effectiveness of the exercise. Exhale during this movement.

Step 3

Lower the dumbbell slowly to the starting position.

anterior-raise-seated-upright-dumbbell-forward-alternate-step-2

Lower the dumbbell slowly to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Hold the dumbbells with an overhand grip in front of your body (palms facing down). Your arms should be parallel.

Step 4

Keep your shoulders down while raising the left dumbbell to shoulder level. Rotate the arm inward as if you are pouring water.

anterior-raise-seated-upright-dumbbell-forward-alternate-step-3

Keeping your shoulders down (do not shrug them) and your elbows slightly bent, raise the left dumbbell straight up toward shoulder level. As the dumbbell reaches shoulder level, rotate it as if you are pouring water from a pitcher to increase the effectiveness of the exercise. Exhale during this movement.

Step 5

Lower the dumbbell slowly to the starting position.

anterior-raise-seated-upright-dumbbell-forward-alternate-step-4

Lower the dumbbell slowly to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Hold the dumbbells with an overhand grip in front of your body (palms facing down). Your arms should be parallel.