You might think that having well-developed arms is the foundation to building a stronger upper body but the shoulders and upper back play a huge role in how strong we feel and look. The overhead press is the perfect move for building deltoid muscle around the shoulder caps, and working the traps in the upper back that can be otherwise hard to reach. Remember, it’s virtually impossible to build “bulk” in these areas as a woman – think more J.Lo than AJ when it comes to toning upper body muscles.

So, what exactly is an overhead press and what muscles does it work?

An overhead press is simple. It involves standing and pressing a pair of dumbbells directly over your head. It’s great for the following reasons:

• Upper body workout: Targets the pecs, traps, delts, arms and requires a little core activation.
• Adaptable: Start light and progress the weight as you see fit. You may find that you’re able to lift a little more than you anticipate if you bend the knees slightly on the push-up.
• Simple: There’s nothing complicated about this move but its power is in your posture. It’s all too easy to overextend the shoulders so that you lift behind your head instead of directly above it, and if the core isn’t engaged, your back might start to take the flack.

Overhead presses are great for building serious upper body strength while having access to a little more power from the quads and glutes.