Halo: A Great Exercise to Warmup Your Upper Body
Ha-lo there... welcome to the blog. And no we aren’t here to talk about my incredible video game skills, we’re here to talk about what the exercise has to offer.
I love implementing this movement into a warmup with my clients. It’s a great way of increasing blood flow and synovial fluid for the shoulder joint. This helps increase mobility in the shoulders and the thoracic spine which is especially great if you’re about to work your upper body.
Another benefit is the development of core reflexive stability. While performing this your goal is to brace your core and keep your head and torso still as the weight moves around your head making tight circles. This reflexive core stability helps keep your torso steady and upright when confronted with resistance. Strengthening this can help reduce and prevent back pain and improve posture.
The halo is best done using a kettlebell, although a plate and dumbbell may be used. It can be done standing up as well, but I like it performed in a kneeling position to put more focus on the core while taking the legs out of it so they can’t help assist.
Check out the video below on what NOT to do (and also what TO do).
