These exercises target your abs and lower back. It also strengthens the connection between your upper and lower body.
Woodchop
1. Stand facing forwards with your feet shoulder width apart
2. Bend your knees and hold a dumbbell in both hands down to one side on the outside of your thigh
3. Twist your torso to the side and keeping your arms straight bring the dumbell up into the air on the opposite side to where it started
4. Keep your core muscles engaged
Low-cable woodchop
1 . Adopt the same starting position as the woodchop but instead hold the cable between your hands
2. Follow the same rotational movement from one side outside your thigh to up high the other side
3. The cable provides added resistance throughout the move working your muscles extra hard
High-cable woodchop
1. Hold a cable at head height with both hands
2. Bring the cable down towards your opposing knee – the opposite of the low cable woodchop
3. Repeat on each side keeping your legs straight at all times
Woodchop lunge
1. Stand up straight with your feet facing forwards
2. Bending your arms, hold a dumbbell in both hands over one shoulder
2. Step forward into a lunge and chop the weight down across your body
4. Make sure that your front knee doesn’t go past your foot underneath
5. Moving vertically and horizontally at the same time doubles the work placed on your abs
