Chest-Supported Y Raise

Face down on an incline bench, raise light dumbbells overhead in a Y; the lower traps do the work.

Chest-Supported Y Raise, illustrated

How to do it

Setup

Face down on an incline bench, LIGHT bells hanging, thumbs up.

Steps

  1. Raise the arms overhead into a Y.
  2. Blades glide down and in as the arms rise.
  3. Lower long with control.

Common mistakes

Shrugging into the Y: the LOWER traps lift when the shoulders stay away from the ears. Bells too heavy: a kilo done right beats five done wrong. Arms drifting to a T: the Y angle is the target.

Breathing

Exhale raising, inhale lowering.