Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift

Hinge at the hips with dumbbells running down the thighs, knees soft, until the hamstrings pull tight.

Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift, illustrated

How to do it

Setup

Stand tall, bells in front of the thighs, knees softly bent.

Steps

  1. Push the hips back, bells sliding down the thighs.
  2. Keep the back flat, knee angle frozen.
  3. Stop at the hamstring stretch; drive the hips forward to stand.

Common mistakes

Reaching for the floor: depth comes from the stretch, not ambition. Bells hanging away from the legs: keep contact. Knees bending deeper as you tire: the angle never changes.

Breathing

Inhale hinging back, exhale standing.