The Core of the Matter

Daughter Nicki had a fender-bender Saturday night, and her left shoulder was sore, come workout time.  I've been having her work on Coach Sonnon's Eclipse series (more on this later), and she wasn't able to stress her left side, although she WAS able to continue the exercise for the full twenty minutes. This is a good thing.  The next exercises I'd set up for her were a series of double kettlebell exercises.  This is all from an article that Steve Maxwell wrote for Pavel, and its designed to produce "Power Endurance" for mixed martial arts types.  I also figure it will jack up her metabolism something fierce:

1) Double Snatch
2) Double clean and push-press
3) Front Squat/Push Press
4) Clean and Squat
5) Deadlift Squat Thrusts (sort lof like burpees with a KB in each hand.  Wicked!)

Anyway, you're supposed to perform an exercise for 30 seconds, and then rest for thirty seconds, then go on to the next one.  When you've completed all five, rest for 60 seconds and begin again.  this is a killer series.  At any rate, her shoulder bothered her too much, even when we went to a smaller bell on the left side. 
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So I switched gears completely, and had her work on abdominals. The KB is excellent for a lot of very odd and painful abdominal exercises.  And this is great, because if there was just one part of your body you had time to work, it should be the abs.  Why?

1) When your abs look great, the rest of your body tends to look good as well.
2)  Aids digestion
3) Aids posture, thereby increasing energy
4) Great for sports--all power is transferred from the lower to the upper body by various abdominal muscles.
5) Protects your back.  Most people with bad backs have weak abdominals.
6) Increases strength.  Lifting strength is produced by intra-abdominal pressure.  The more powerfully you can contract these muscles, the stronger and safer you can lift.
7)The abdominal muscles can be worked laying down, standing, sitting, driving, walking.  They are perfect for the "Five Minute Miracle" approach.
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anyway, I expect that Nicki's abs will be sore as hell this morning.  Can't wait to wake her up and hustle her to yoga!