How To: Do single-arm alternating dumbbell curls

Learn how to do single-arm alternating dumbbell curls. Presented by Real Jock Gay Fitness Health & Life.

Benefits
Single-arm alternating dumbbell curls work the biceps of each arm individually while overlapping reps to get your heart rate up.

Muscles Worked
Biceps

Starting Position
Stand upright with feet about hip-width apart and dumbbells held in each hand at your sides with your palms facing up and dumbbells held in an easy, open-handed grip. Hold your elbows in front of your ribs.

Exercise

1. From the starting position, keep your upper arm stationary and shoulders retracted as you do a full bicep curl with one arm. Begin the curl with a scooping motion to lengthen the muscle before flexion. Keep your elbow in front of your ribs as you bring your hand up toward your shoulder. Flex your bicep fully at the top of the movement.
2. From the top of the curl, reverse direction and begin lowering the weight back down, resisting the weight with your biceps as you lower the dumbbell. As you begin lowering that arm from the top of your curl, start curling with the other arm, such that the hands pass each other at the midpoint of the curls, one going up and the other going down.