Weighted Side Lying Side Neck Raise

Perform the weighted side lying side neck raise to strengthen the neck muscles.

  1. Lie on your side with a weight plate or dumbbell resting on your head.
  2. Keep your body straight and your bottom arm extended for support.
  3. Slowly raise your head towards the ceiling, engaging your neck muscles.
  4. Lower back to the starting position and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

How to perform the Weighted Side Lying Side Neck Raise

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Weighted Side Lying Side Neck Raise using your free weights.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your trapezius.
  3. 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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