All Exercises

Around the World Superman

Strengthen your lower back, glutes, and hamstrings with the Around the World Superman.

Intermediate
Compound
Static
1 min per set30s rest

Description

A bodyweight exercise that targets the lower back, glutes, and hamstrings. It involves lifting the chest and legs off the floor and rotating the arms in a circular motion.

How to Do Around the World Superman

  1. 1
    Setup

    Lie face down on the floor with your arms extended overhead and legs straight, feet together. Keep your neck in a neutral position by looking at the floor.

  2. 2
    Setup

    Engage your core and simultaneously lift your chest, arms, and legs a few inches off the floor, squeezing your glutes and lower back muscles.

  3. 3

    While maintaining the lifted position, sweep your arms out to the sides in a wide arc, bringing them down towards your hips with your palms facing down.

  4. 4

    Continue the circular motion, bringing your arms back overhead to the starting position, completing one full 'around the world' movement.

  5. 5

    Keep your core engaged and your lower back and glutes active throughout the entire arm rotation, resisting the urge to drop your body.

Tips

  • Maintain a neutral neck by keeping your gaze focused on the floor a few inches in front of you, avoiding hyperextension of the cervical spine.
  • Focus on controlled, deliberate arm movements rather than using momentum, ensuring constant tension on your shoulders and upper back.
  • Actively squeeze your glutes throughout the exercise to help lift your legs higher and provide support for your lower back.
  • Breathe steadily and deeply; exhale as your arms sweep down and inhale as they return overhead, avoiding holding your breath.

Common Mistakes

  • ×Cranking the neck upwards can strain the cervical spine; fix this by keeping your head in line with your spine and your gaze directed at the floor.
  • ×Using momentum to swing the arms reduces muscle engagement; fix this by slowing down the arm circles and focusing on a controlled, deliberate motion.
  • ×Excessively arching the lower back can lead to discomfort or injury; fix this by actively engaging your core and glutes to lift the body as a cohesive unit.

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