23/06/2026
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🧬 If your traps are screaming or your neck feels strained during lateral raises, you’re not training your shoulders—you’re training your stress response.
🧬 This happens because your upper traps are taking over the movement to compensate for weak side delts. You are “shrugging” the weight up instead of driving it out.
🧬 The fix:
Drop the ego: If you can’t control the weight without shrugging, you are lifting too heavy. Drop the weight and focus on the tension.
Depress your shoulders: Before you start the set, pull your shoulder blades down and back, away from your ears. Keep them locked in that “depressed” position throughout the entire movement.
Lead with the elbows: Don’t think about lifting the dumbbells or the cable handle. Think about driving your elbows out toward the walls.
Relax your jaw/neck: Sounds simple, but if you are clenching your teeth or bracing your neck, the tension will travel straight up. Keep your neck long and your gaze neutral.
Stop at shoulder height: If you go higher, you automatically activate the upper traps. Stay parallel to the floor to keep the tension on the side delts where it belongs.
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TrainSmart