Bodyweight Shrug
The bodyweight shrug targets the upper trapezius muscles. It is a simple yet effective exercise that can be performed anywhere.
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Relax your arms at your sides.
- Shrug your shoulders up towards your ears.
- Hold for a moment, then lower your shoulders back down.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
How to perform the Bodyweight Shrug
- Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Bodyweight Shrug using your body weight.
- Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your trapezius.
- Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.
Coaching cues
- Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
- Drive force through your trapezius rather than momentum.
- Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.
Common mistakes
- Using too much weight and losing positional control.
- Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
- Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.
Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.
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