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Shoulders 2

A series of stretches designed to increase flexibility in the shoulders.

Exercise Overview

Exercise Instructions

Chest Opener demonstration

1. Chest Opener

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet hip-width apart.
  • Clasp your hands behind your head and widen your arms to bring your elbows out and back.
  • Gently squeeze your shoulder blades together and open your chest.

Tips

  • Lower your shoulders and relax your neck.
  • Keep your back and spine straight.

Modifications

  • If clasping your hands behind your head is difficult, use a strap or towel to hold onto.

Benefits

Abdomen, Chest, Shoulders

One Arm Hug demonstration

2. One Arm Hug

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your back straight and your arms resting at your sides.
  • Extend one arm across your body, bringing it towards the opposite shoulder.
  • Hook your other arm around your extended arm to pull it closer to your chest.

Tips

  • Maintain an upright posture and avoid leaning to either side.
  • Keep your extended arm relaxed.

Modifications

  • For a gentler stretch, lower your extended arm to your abdomen and pull it with your other hand.

Benefits

Lats, Shoulders, Triceps

Reverse Shoulder demonstration

3. Reverse Shoulder

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet hip-width apart and your arms at your sides.
  • Clasp your hands behind your back with your thumbs pointing towards the floor.
  • Straighten your arms and gently lift your hands away from your back.
  • Pull your shoulders back and down, lift your chest, and slightly tuck your chin.

Tips

  • Keep your core engaged to support your lower back.
  • Avoid arching your back excessively.

Modifications

  • For less intensity, don't lift your hands as high behind your back.

Benefits

Biceps, Chest, Shoulders

Overhead Tricep demonstration

4. Overhead Tricep

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your back straight and your arms resting at your sides.
  • Raise one arm overhead and bend your elbow, bringing your hand towards the opposite shoulder blade.
  • Use your opposite hand to gently press your elbow down towards the middle of your back

Benefits

Chest, Lats, Lower Back, Obliques, Shoulders, Triceps, Upper Back

Wall Arms demonstration

5. Wall Arms

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet hip-width apart and the side of your shoulder against a wall.
  • Keeping your feet in place, rotate your torso and reach back with your arm to place your palm against the wall at shoulder height.
  • Keep your hand against the wall and rotate your torso back to face forward.

Tips

  • Your knees, hips, and shoulders should be square and in line at the end of the movement.

Benefits

Biceps, Chest, Shoulders

Forward Fold demonstration

6. Forward Fold

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your feet hip-width apart and your hands interlaced behind your back.
  • Slowly bend forward from your hips, letting your upper body hang down toward the floor.
  • Extend your arms and let your hands fall forward over your head.

Tips

  • Let your head and neck relax completely.
  • Keep your legs straight but not locked.

Modifications

  • If interlacing your fingers is difficult, hold a strap or towel between your hands.

Benefits

Calves, Chest, Glutes, Hamstrings, Hips, Shoulders, Upper Back

Eagle Arm demonstration

7. Eagle Arm

Instructions

  • Start from a standing or seated position with your back straight and your arms straight out in front of you at shoulder height.
  • Cross one arm over the other at the elbows, then bend your arms to bring your forearms perpendicular to the floor.
  • Wrap your forearms around each other to bring your palms together.

Tips

  • Keep your shoulders relaxed and try to create space between your shoulder blades.

Modifications

  • If your palms don't touch, press the backs of your hands together instead.

Benefits

Lats, Shoulders, Triceps, Upper Back

Wall Pecs demonstration

8. Wall Pecs

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position in a open doorway or facing the outside corner of a wall.
  • Place your palm and forearm against the wall at shoulder height, forming a 90-degree angle at your elbow.
  • Step forward with one leg and and lean forward until you feel a stretch in your chest.

Tips

  • Keep your shoulder blade pulled down and back.
  • Keep your body upright and don't twist or lean to either side.

Modifications

  • For less intensity, don't lean as far forward.

Benefits

Chest, Shoulders

Diver demonstration

9. Diver

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your back straight and your arms resting at your sides.
  • Extend your arms out in front of you, bringing your hands together so one hand is on top of the other.
  • Tuck your head down between your arms and round your back while reaching forward with your hands.

Tips

  • Keep your core engaged and your feet flat on the floor.

Benefits

Lower Back, Neck, Shoulders, Upper Back

Wall Dog demonstration

10. Wall Dog

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position facing a wall, about an arm's length away.
  • Place your hands on the wall at shoulder height and take a step back with both feet.
  • Keep your arms and legs straight and lower your upper body towards the floor.

Tips

  • Relax your neck and let your head hang between your arms.

Modifications

  • If the stretch is too intense, bend your knees slightly and walk your feet closer to the wall.

Benefits

Chest, Hamstrings, Lower Back, Shoulders, Upper Back

Doorway Pecs demonstration

11. Doorway Pecs

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position in an open doorway.
  • Place both of your palms and forearms against the sides of the doorframe at shoulder height, forming 90-degrees at your elbows.
  • Step one foot forward and lean forward through the doorway until your feel a stretch in your chest.

Tips

  • Keep your shoulder blades pulled down and back.
  • Maintain a neutral spine and avoid arching your lower back.

Modifications

  • For less intensity, don't lean as far forward.

Benefits

Chest, Shoulders

Shoulder Rolls demonstration

12. Shoulder Rolls

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your back straight and your arms at your sides.
  • Lift your shoulders up towards your ears.
  • Roll your shoulders back and down, making a circular motion.
  • Repeat the movement and reverse direction at the halfway point.

Tips

  • Focus on creating a smooth, fluid motion to avoid straining your neck.
  • Keep your neck relaxed and your gaze forward.

Modifications

  • If you experience discomfort, perform smaller circles or just lift and lower your shoulders.

Benefits

Neck, Shoulders, Upper Back

Neck Roll demonstration

13. Neck Roll

Instructions

  • Start from a seated position with your back straight and your shoulder relaxed.
  • Tuck your chin down towards your chest and gently roll your neck to the right, bringing your right ear towards your right shoulder.
  • Roll your chin back down towards your chest and then roll your neck to the left, bringing your left ear towards your left shoulder.
  • Repeat this back and forth in a slow, continuous motion.

Tips

  • Move slowly and gently to avoid strain or dizziness.
  • Minimize your risk of injury by avoiding full neck circles.

Modifications

  • If you have neck pain, limit your range of motion to a comfortable level.

Benefits

Neck, Shoulders, Spine, Upper Back

Ear-to-Shoulder demonstration

14. Ear-to-Shoulder

Instructions

  • Start from a standing or seated position with your back straight and your arms at your sides.
  • Slowly tilt your head to one side, bringing your ear towards your shoulder.
  • Place your opposite hand behind your back and your other hand on the top of your head and gently pull down.

Tips

  • Keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed.
  • Don't lift or tuck your chin; keep it in a neutral position.

Benefits

Neck, Shoulders

Cactus Arms demonstration

15. Cactus Arms

Instructions

  • Start from a standing position with your back straight and your arms resting at your sides.
  • Raise your arms to shoulder height, bending your elbows at a 90-degree angle with your palms facing forward.
  • Keep your elbows in line with your shoulders and your forearms perpendicular to the floor.
  • Squeeze your shoulder blades together, opening your chest.

Tips

  • Keep your shoulders relaxed and away from your ears.
  • Keep your neck long and gaze straight ahead.

Modifications

  • If you experience shoulder discomfort, lower your elbows slightly.
  • For added support, practice the pose with your back against a wall.

Benefits

Chest, Neck, Shoulders, Spine, Upper Back

Bear Hug demonstration

16. Bear Hug

Instructions

  • Start from a standing or seated position with your back straight and your arms out to the sides.
  • Wrap your arms around yourself, placing your hands on your shoulder blades.
  • Squeeze your arms around your upper body, round your upper back, and tuck your chin to your chest.

Tips

  • Exhale at the beginning of the movement to make it easier to wrap your arms around your body.

Modifications

  • For less intensity, perform the exercise with your arms crossed in front of your chest.

Benefits

Neck, Shoulders, Spine, Upper Back

Cow Face demonstration

17. Cow Face

Instructions

  • Start from a standing or seated position with your back straight and your arms at your sides.
  • Lift one arm overhead, then bend your elbow to place your hand between your shoulder blades.
  • Lift your other arm out to the side, then bend your elbow to bring it behind your back.
  • Clasp your hands together behind your back.

Tips

  • Keep your chest lifted and your back straight.

Modifications

  • For less intensity, place one hand on your upper back and the other on your lower back.

Benefits

Shoulders, Triceps

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