Lateral Raise - Seated

Recommendations: 2-3 Sets, 8-12 Reps, 80 Wght

Beginner Side Shoulders Strength Dumbbell Flat Bench Pull Gym

Purpose: This exercise strengthens the side deltoid muscle area.

Benefits: This exercise isolates the lateral delt muscle.

Sit on a supine (flat) bench. Grasp dumbbells at your sides with palms facing inward. Let the dumbbells hang down beside the bench. Your elbows should be slightly bent. This is the starting position. Lift the dumbbells to the side up to about shoulder level. When the dumbbells reach shoulder level, rotate them slightly inward as if you are pouring water. In other words, rotate your shoulders forward so the front of the dumbbells is slightly lower than the rear. This will raise your elbows slightly. Keep your elbows slightly bent and ensure that the weights come up in an arc. Exhale during this movement. Lower the dumbbells slowly to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Repeat for the required number of repetitions.


The Lateral (side) deltoid or shoulder is one of the three distinct heads of the deltoid anatomy. It is typically used raise the arm to the side. All three heads of the delts help hold the shoulder together.

Step 1

Sit on a flat bench, dumbbells held at your sides with palms facing inward, hanging beside the bench.

lateral-raise-seated-step-0

Sit on a supine (flat) bench. Grasp dumbbells at your sides with palms facing inward. Let the dumbbells hang down beside the bench. Your elbows should be slightly bent. This is the starting position.

Step 2

Raise the dumbbells to the side up to shoulder level, rotating the shoulders forward as if pouring water.

lateral-raise-seated-step-1

Lift the dumbbells to the side up to about shoulder level. When the dumbbells reach shoulder level, rotate them slightly inward as if you are pouring water. In other words, rotate your shoulders forward so the front of the dumbbells is slightly lower than the rear. This will raise your elbows slightly. Keep your elbows slightly bent and ensure that the weights come up in an arc. Exhale during this movement.

Step 3

Lower the dumbbells slowly to the starting position.

lateral-raise-seated-step-2

Lower the dumbbells slowly to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Hold dumbbells at your sides with palms facing inward. Let the dumbbells hang down beside the bench. Your elbows should be slightly bent.