If you have read any of my stuff, you know that I love working out at home.  I value a muscular body, but don’t have a lot of time for the gym.  So I usually break out my adjustable dumbbells and do some simple (but effective) exercises that keep my body looking great, but don’t take a ton of time or an elaborate home gym.

One of the exercises that I do in a dumbbell shoulder press.  This is an easy exercise to do and will work your shoulders and arms.  Be sure to work both sides evenly.  Here is a video to show you the proper technique.

As you can see the instructor in this video is using a traditional dumbbell set.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t have room for those at my house so I use adjustable dumbbells instead.

Here are two of my favorite sets.
[phpzon]PowerBlock Classic Adjustable 5 to 45-Pounds per Dumbbell Set, 1[/phpzon]
[phpzon]Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells, 1[/phpzon]

I like these because they are both customer top rated at Amazon, and you can change the weights easily. My personal preference is the PowerBlock adjustable dumbbells set because it doesn’t roll around, but some people have trouble getting used to the handle. So it really comes down to personal preference.

Some things to keep in mind when doing a dumbbell shoulder press.

• Keep your hands straight above your shoulders – never at an angle.
• Use a smooth controlled motion.
• Bend your knees slightly.
• Keep your stomach tight and chest up.
• You can do 1 arm at a time or both at the same time.

The muscles you will work by doing this exercise are the deltoids and triceps.  Triceps are often overlooked, but very important if you want a strong look.

Remember to vary your workout and never work the same muscle groups two days in a row.  What I do is arms and chest one day with legs and stomach the next.

Doing a dumbbell shoulder press is a great exercise to add to your workouts.  You can do this exercise with either adjustable dumbbells or with free weights.  Remember to pay attention to technique and you will get great results!