How to do a Smith Machine Overhead Shoulder Press

This exercise is a variation on the more standard Shoulder Press. Similar to other Shoulder Press variations, this is a compound exercise that primarily targets your shoulders. The use of a Smich Machine adds significantly more stability to the exercise allowing you to focus on exertion rather than stability.

1. Place the smith machine bar at shoulder height and grab ahold of it shoulder-width apart.
2. Sit underneath the bar so the bar is at chest level.
3. Turn your elbows underneath the bar so that your forearms are vertical and your palms face upward before unhooking it and standing upright.
4. Brace your core to keep a neutral spine as you begin to extend your arms overhead by pressing through your palms to raise the bar overhead.
5. The bar should be in align with your ears at full arm extension before descending it back to the starting position.

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