Lateral Raise
Lateral raises isolate the lateral (side) deltoid head, which creates the wide-shouldered look. Use light weight with strict form — this exercise is about isolation, not ego.
How to Perform
Stand with dumbbells at your sides, palms facing in.
Raise your arms out to the sides until they are parallel with the floor.
Lead with your elbows, not your hands — think about pouring water from a pitcher.
Pause briefly at the top and lower slowly (3-second eccentric).
Keep a slight bend in your elbows throughout.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using too much weight and swinging the dumbbells up with momentum.
Shrugging the traps — keep your shoulders down.
Raising the dumbbells too high above shoulder level.
Going too fast and missing the mind-muscle connection.
Muscle Activation
Variations
Track your Lateral Raise progress with Revy
Log your sets, see your strength gains over time, and get AI-powered recommendations to break through plateaus.