Overhead Press (Dumbbell)

Setup

Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a dumbbell in each hand at shoulder height with palms facing forward and elbows slightly in front of your body. Engage your core and maintain a neutral spine with a slight natural arch in your lower back.

How to do it

1. Press both dumbbells straight overhead until your arms are fully extended, keeping them aligned over your shoulders.
2. Squeeze your glutes and brace your abs throughout the movement to prevent excessive back arching.
3. Lower the dumbbells with control back to shoulder height, maintaining tension in your shoulders.
4. Keep your wrists stacked directly over your elbows throughout the entire range of motion.
5. Exhale as you press up and inhale as you lower the weights.

Watch out for

• ✗Leaning back excessively and turning the movement into an incline press instead of keeping the torso vertical.
• ✗Pressing the dumbbells forward in an arc rather than straight up overhead.
• ✗Allowing the elbows to flare out too wide instead of keeping them at roughly a 45-degree angle from the body.