But it’s time to change that, says Rachel Prairie, a personal trainer with Anytime Fitness in Woodbury, Minnesota. Not only do strong shoulder muscles look super-sexy, they’re also important if you want to retain your range of motion. “Strong shoulders make most arm movements easier,” says Prairie, whether it’s lifting a suitcase or bags of groceries, passing a serving dish across the dinner table, or holding plank pose in your favorite yoga class. Here, Prairie shares her five favorite shoulder-sculpting moves. Beginners should do three sets of 12-15 reps of each move, intermediate folks can do four sets of 10-12 reps, and those who are advanced should do six sets of 6-8 reps. Remember to use weights that aren’t too heavy but that do make your muscles feel truly spent at the end of a set. (The 21-day plan in Love Your Age is the life-changing reset every 40+ woman needs!)
The Push Press
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The Lateral Raise
This is the best way to unhunch your shoulders:
The Arnold Press
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The Front Raise
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The Hand Walk
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