Recommendations: 2-3 Sets, 8-12 Reps
Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Hold water bottles with the palms facing inwards (hammer grip) and your arms close to the sides of your body. Bend over while facing forward (not down) with your knees slightly bent until your upper body is parallel to the floor. Let the bottles hang down and you feel the stretch in the lats. This is the starting position. Lift the bottles straight up toward your waist. Keep your arms close to your body until your upper arms are parallel with your back. Hold for a second at the top, feeling the lift from the lats and the traps (not the shoulders and arms) and squeeze the scapula together. Exhale during this movement. Lower the weight slowly to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Repeat for the required number of repetitions. Variation: This exercise can also be done using other items found in the home, such as cans.
Step 1
Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Hold water bottles with the palms inwards (hammer grip) and your arms close to the sides of your body. Bend over while facing forward (not down) with your knees slightly bent until your upper body is parallel to the floor. Let the bottles hang down and you feel the stretch in the lats. This is the starting position.
Step 2
Lift the bottles straight up toward your waist. Keep your arms close to your body until your upper arms are parallel with your back. Hold for a second at the top, feeling the lift from the lats and the traps (not the shoulders and arms) and squeeze the scapula together. Exhale during this movement.
Step 3
Lower the weight slowly to the starting position. Inhale during this movement. Hold water bottles with the palms inwards (hammer grip) and your arms close to the sides of your body. Bend over while facing forward (not down) with your knees slightly bent until your upper body is parallel to the floor. Let the bottles hang down and you feel the stretch in the lats.