Exercise of the Week - Kettlebell Low Windmill
I've been strength training for a long time and one result of long-term training is a fierce dislike of certain exercises. This dislike often originates from familiarity - do a million crunches over your lifetime and they eventually lose their ability to thrill. That's just one reason I'm all about new ways to work the core and this windmill exercise is an excellent choice if you want something new to try.
Kettlebell exercises are known for their functionality and the low windmill is no exception. This whole body movement builds a strong back as well as the abs (particularly the obliques), arms and shoulders - all with a bonus of working on balance and stability. Another version is the high windmill, which involves holding the weight in the upper hand.
If you don't have a kettlebell, you can use a dumbbell, although you may not get the same challenge - the center of gravity is in a different place when you're using a kettlebell as opposed to a dumbbell.
Do it right: Hold a medium kettlebell or dumbbell in the right hand, turning the right toes out and the left toes forward. Take the left arm straight up and lean to the right, kicking the left hip out and bending the right knee as you lower the weight towards the floor. Make sure you keep the left arm straight and look up at that hand for more of a challenge. Straighten back to start, keeping the left arm up and repeat for 8-16 reps before switching sides.
Exercise of the Week - Kettlebell Low Windmill originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 09:57:25.