Kettlebell Halo

Also called halo, kb halo and kettlebell circle.

Works

Shoulders, plus traps, upper back, abs and triceps

Equipment

Kettlebell

Level

Beginner

Type

Compound

How to do it

Setup. Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart. Hold a kettlebell upside down by the horns, with the bell above your hands and close to your chest. Brace your abdominals and squeeze your glutes so your ribcage stays down. This is your starting position.

1. Keeping your elbows close to your head, move the kettlebell up past one ear and around behind your head.
2. Continue the circle past the opposite ear and back down to the starting position in front of your chest, letting the bell pass close to your body throughout.
3. Complete the prescribed number of circles in one direction, then repeat the same number in the opposite direction.
4. Move slowly and keep your head, hips and lower back still. If your lower back arches or the bell drifts far from your head, use a lighter weight.

Cues

• Hold the bell by the horns, upside down.
• Circle close around the head.
• Ribs down, glutes tight.
• Switch direction each set.

Common mistakes

• Arching the low back.
• Circles too wide.

Where to start

A starting point, not a law. Pick a weight you could lift two or three more times than the top of the range. Tempo is seconds down, pause, up. When every set hits the top of the range, add a little weight.

Harder

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