The Woodchop is the perfect exercise for targeting your core, spine and shoulders. Scroll down to learn the PROPER WOODCHOP FORM and to learn ALL THE MUSCLES in this exercise!
Let's get into a "wood-chopping" position!
1. Stand with legs hip-width apart, facing straight ahead, holding a ball or dumbbell at the center of your chest.
2. Gently twist your body to the right (or left, your preference) and raise your arms up into the air. Make sure your legs stay facing forward! *You should really feel your core, spine and shoulders working here*
3. The ball or dumbbell in your hands should be held up high. Your torso should only be twisting in the direction of the ball or dumbbell.
4. Gently twist your body back the opposite direction, bringing the ball back down. Your knees should slightly bend in this lower position. Legs should still be facing forward! *You should really feel your core, spine and shoulders working here*
5. And repeat! Gently twist your body back to the right and raise your arms up into the air.
The Woodchop really targets the FULL core. It also gets your spine, shoulders and your whole upper body working too.
Every time your twist your body to the left or right, you are working the muscles of your core. The muscles that twist your body are called OBLIQUES. You have two types of Obliques, called Internal Obliques and External Obliques. They are located at the sides of your chest.
Every time you bend or crunch your chest in, you are working the muscles of your core as well. Particularly, bending your chest works a muscle called RECTUS ABDOMINIS, which is your 6-Pack Muscle. This muscle is located right in the center of your chest.
The muscles of your spine also get a total workout from the Woodchop. From your cervical spine (part of the spine that makes up your neck) down to your thoracic spine (part of the spine that makes up your torso).
CERVICAL SPINE MUSCLES: Sternocleidomastoid, Spinalis Cervicis, Spinalis Capitus and Scalenus
THORACIC SPINE MUSCLES: Erector Spinae Muscle Group (Iliocostalis, Longissimus and Spinalis)
Stay tuned for more variations of the Woodchop exercise! If you still need any help in doing this exercise or would like to learn more about it, contact DANCE CUBE on the Join The Cube page!