No-Equipment Sculpted Shoulders

I mentioned on Monday that shoulders are my newly-discovered favorite muscle. I don’t know if it’s because they show up the quickest of my muscles when I’m regularly doing a free weights routine, or if it’s because toned shoulder muscles make your arms look amazing in sleeveless tops, but I looove when I start seeing results on mine.

They obvs look exactly like Vanessa Hudgens’ shoulders:

In my strength class, we do “Shoulder Pulses” – a killer no-equipment shoulder move that is sooo simple but so effective. In class, we throw this mini-circuit in after a series of bicep moves, shoulder raises, lateral raises, and tricep lifts, and by the time we get to the pulses I honestly can’t even finish them (I blame it on long arms – gravity working against me!). You know I love no-equipment workouts, so try Shoulder Pulses out yourself 2-3 times a week, either on their own or tacked onto the end of a series of other arm exercises to be summer-shirt ready in no time

Shoulder Pulses
Stand shoulder-width apart, with your arms raises at shoulder-height. Your body should be in a “T” shape.
The four “positions” are (1) palms facing the ground, (2) palms facing the ceiling, (3) palms facing forward, (4) palms facing backward.
Each “count” is 2 “pulses” – fowardbackwardforwardbackward.
Beginning in position (1), do the following circuit: 16 counts in each position, 8 counts in each position, 4 counts in each position, 2 counts in each position (start with 16 in position (1) before moving to position (2), etc.)
If you can still hold your arms up, repeat until you can’t anymore!
Need more of a challenge? Hold light (2-3 lb.) free weights in your hands. Arms starting to ache? Bend your elbows to “shorten the lever”.

Try it out and let me know what you think! Do you like no-equipment workout tips? Would you like pictures or a video next time?!