Abstract: An exercise machine has a frame carrying a seat adapted to support an exercising person in a sitting position, the preferred posture for a person exercising. A pair of upright shafts are journaled in the frame and extend along and rotate about respective axes above the shoulders of the person on the seat. Respective horizontal front arms fixed to the shafts carry respective handles positioned for engagement with the hands and forearms of the person on the seat. Respective right-angle drives on the frame are connected to the shafts for resisting rotation of them in a direction corresponding to displacement of the handles away from the person on the seat with a predetermined force. These drives have rearwardly extending shafts carrying arms on which weights are carried. Respective pivots connect the handles to the respective arms for pivoting of the handles on the arms only in planes including the respective shaft axes.