Push
Overhead Press
What it works
Mainly: Shoulders. Also: Triceps, Core, Traps.
Setup
Bar or dumbbells at shoulder height, elbows slightly in front of the body, feet under the hips, glutes and abs tight.
How it goes
Press straight up, moving your head back slightly out of the way, and finish with the weight over the middle of your feet.
Two things people get wrong
- Leaning back to turn it into a standing incline press.
- Pressing around the face rather than moving the head out of the path.
If the kit’s busy
Seated dumbbell press with back support.
Also written as: Dumbbell Shoulder Press, Dumbbell Press, Arnold Press
In these programmes
These are setup and execution cues, not coaching. If something hurts, stop — and if you're training around an injury or a health condition, get a professional's eyes on it first.