How to Achieve Beautifully Squared Shoulders Like Seohyun

Recently, Seohyun shared several photos on her social media. In the pictures, she wears a white sleeveless top that highlights her straight shoulders. Seohyun's smooth shoulder line is impressive. Here’s how you can achieve a similar look.

To Achieve Straight Shoulders, Fix Bad Habits First

People with straight shoulders, like Seohyun, have symmetrical shoulder blades. This shoulder shape can be influenced by both genetics and poor posture. When your shoulders round forward, the pectoral muscles near the ribs tighten. Over time, this makes the muscles shorter and firmer, leading to a rounded shoulder appearance, known as "rounded shoulders."

To maintain straight shoulders, you need to correct your posture. Especially when using computers or smartphones for long periods, adopt good habits. Adjust your devices to eye level. Avoid positions where your neck sticks out or bends too much. Also, avoid looking down at your phone while lying on your stomach, as this can tense muscles in your neck, shoulders, and back.

When using a computer, keep your shoulders back and your head facing forward. Ensure your wrists and mouse are level. Resting your elbows on the desk and leaning your weight on your shoulders and body can negatively affect your shoulder shape and posture.

Exercises and Stretches for Straight Shoulders

One effective exercise for strengthening shoulder muscles is the Shoulder Press. To perform this exercise, sit on a chair or bench with your back straight. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with your arms bent at a 90-degree angle, with the dumbbells at ear level. Then, press the dumbbells upward until your arms are fully extended, and slowly lower them back to the starting position at ear level. Beginners can start with 2 kg dumbbells and aim for 3 to 5 sets of 15 repetitions.

Pull-Down is another exercise that helps strengthen the back muscles, particularly the latissimus dorsi. To do this exercise, sit on the pull-down machine and grasp the handle with both hands. Pull the handle down towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together. Then, slowly return the handle to the starting position. Stronger latissimus dorsi muscles help keep your shoulders aligned and can also relieve neck and back pain.

Trapezius Stretch is important for stretching the trapezius muscles, which are crucial for shoulder movement. To perform this stretch, sit or stand with your back straight and lift one shoulder. Tilt your neck to the opposite side and gently press your head with your hand. Extend the opposite arm downward and, while exhaling, pull the raised shoulder down. Hold this position for 15 seconds, then repeat on the other side.