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Having strong arms is important to make your day easier, but many people seem to expect their arms to pick up anything and everything without ever making an effort to develop and strengthen the muscles. When it comes to the subject of weight training, many women are frightened off by mental images of bulky female bodybuilders with protruding veins and think that that's what weight lifting will do for the body.
One of the best movements to strengthen the biceps muscle is the bicep curl. It’s a classic because of the way it builds the muscle without a complicated movement. Begin by holding the weights comfortably in your hands with arms extended by your sides. Keep your elbows tucked firmly against the body and slowly raise the weights up and then lower. Repeat this for 3 sets of 20 repetitions. To maximize the movement, slow it down. This requires the muscle to work harder and will develop it faster.
A variation of the bicep curl is to begin the same way but angle your arms at a wider angle to work more of the muscle. If you’re tired of your puny arms being bruised from your shirt sleeves slapping against them, this exercise is for you. Take a slightly wider than shoulder-width grip and keep your elbows locked to your sides. Curl until the biceps are peak-contracted. Do three sets of 5-9 reps.
A more unusual method of building the bicep is performing the Plank pose from hatha yoga. It’s very easy and doesn’t even require a mat. Simply lie facedown on the floor with your hands at about shoulder height. Take a deep breath and, using your core muscles as well as arms and legs, push your body off the floor until your back is straight and you are balanced on arms and feet. Maintain this position for a count of 20; lower and rest for a minute, then repeat for 2 sets of 10 repetitions. This movement not only works the biceps but it also toughens up the core muscles.
Plan to work your arm muscles about three times a week to begin with. Investing as little as 15 minutes in challenging the arms and you’ll begin to see results in little as three weeks. Keep it up and you’ll see benefits that last throughout your life. For more details visit http://www.soundbodytrainer.com