Core Work–The Wood Chop
You can use a pulley or cable to do a woodchop
There are many different names for this exercise, but I like to call it the wood chop. Why? Simple–the movement reminds me of swinging an ax at a tree (not that I’ve ever actually done that).
My clients usually say, “well, no, it’s more like swinging a baseball bat.”
The woodchop/lunge combo with a kettlebell
Or maybe a golf club. Anyway…
No matter what you call it, trunk rotation is one of the most basic functional movements. All I mean by that, is it’s something that might come up in day to day activity.
Wood chops can be performed at different angles: high to low, low to high, straight across, and everything in between. You can also mix it up by doing them with various pieces of equipment like cable machines, resistance-bands, kettlebells, or medicine balls. More experienced gym-goers should try combining wood chops with one of my other favorite exercises–lunges!
Trainer Tips:
Stay mindful of your posture while performing this exercise. If you can’t keep your shoulders down and your chest up then you should try using less resistance.
When performing the wood chop/lunge combo, rotate in the direction of your front leg. (When your left leg is in front, twist from right to left.)
