How to Do a Medicine Ball Woodchopper

by POPSUGAR Fitness 4

The woodchopper is a fave exercise among trainers everywhere — Gunnar Peterson calls it his fave core exercise — and my Equinox trainer is a fan of the move too. Woodchoppers really work the abs but target the obliques, helping you to tone your muffin top. But unlike the static plank, woodchoppers target your middle while your middle is in motion, making this move a serious function fitness maneuver. Grab a five to 10 pound medicine ball and get ready to learn the basics.

• Start with the feet a little wider than hip distance apart, keeping the knees slightly bent.
• Bend your elbows bringing the ball to your left shoulder.
• Pull your abs into your spine to stabilize your center.





• On an exhale, bring the ball down diagonally across your body toward your right knee. Imagine you're chopping some wood at this angle and the ball is your axe — the move is a bit percussive.
• Don't twist through your knees, but really rotate through the trunk.
• Control the ball back up to the starting position. This completes one rep.
• Remember you are moving with force, but control. Don't give into the momentum of swinging the ball around.

Do 15 reps each side to complete a set. Lauren always makes me do three sets, so I think you should do that too.