Weight Lifting Exercises for your TRAPS

By Westy

The traps, as they are commonly called, are the Trapezius muscles. They connect your back and your neck (to put it simply). Most often they are trained when working out the shoulders or back. There are only a few exercises you can use to train these muscles. But don't let that put you off. You can achieve massive growth in this are using just a few simple movements. Often it's enough to simply do a few shrugs after your main workout exercises.

The main exercises that will work these muscles are the upright row and the shrug.

The first exercise is the shrug.

You can perform this exercise very simply with a barbell or dumbbells. You can do these exercises from a position in the back or the front.

It is a simple exercise to perform and you will simply have to hold the weight and shrug your shoulders. That is all there is to it. The exercise can be performed with a shoulder roll as well. When you are performing the shrug you will have to roll your shoulders at the same time.

How it's done:

1. Grab the weight and hold it at arms length in front of your body using an overhand grip

2. Lift the shoulders and try to reach your ears with your shoulders.

3. Hold your shoulders up and then lower them slowly, repeat the movement.

One of the most important parts of this exercise is the amount of control that you use when you are lifting your shoulders. Avoid straining the neck and keep control over the movement. You can use a very heavy weight because of the small range of motion. There are other exercises that you can do, including the upright row. This is often used as a part of the shoulder exercise and it can work the traps and the shoulders at the same time.

Here is how the upright row is done:

1. You should use a wide grip if you are going to be giving the traps a greater intensity.

2. Hold the bar with a wide grip at arms length near your thighs

3. Lift the bar straight up along the line of your body until you get to about the hight of your chin

4. Hold the bar in place and slowly lower the bar, repeat the movement.

It's important to keep you elbows high so they are higher than the bar throughought the movement. These 2 exercises, combined with some solid shoulder exercises and back workouts will help you develop the stronger neck and traps muscles you've been looking for. - 17268

About the Author:

Westy's Workouts provides you with the best body building and weight lifting advice on the internet. Find Building Muscle Secrets for growing strong FAST at Building Muscle Tips. Your SIZE depends on it!