It’s not often I can say that I have learned a new exercise that has far-reaching benefits for a large part of the population. Don’t confuse this with learning in general, in this arena most days of the week I’m taking in something new.

The new exercise is one I have known about for a few years but only recently started to incorporate into my workout. The name is one you will not soon forget: The Turkish Get Up, or TGU for short.

I have a demonstration of this exercise on my blog, which you can get to from my website at refinefitness.ca. Please keep in mind that I am still learning this movement, so for the few out there that have mastered this exercise, you may be able to pick out some technical errors but overall I think I have progressed fairly well.

The great thing about TGU is it involves all kinds of muscles and is also very functional when it comes to everyday activities. When you see this movement for this first time, you may say “when in the world would I ever need to do this?” If you break down the movements into four or five different segments, you’ll clearly see the real world applicability.

This is definitely one of those movements that’s easier seen then described so make sure to have a look at my blog.

The only piece of equipment used for TGU is a kettlebell. While you could do this movement with a regular dumb bell or some other similar piece of equipment, the kettlebell really is the ideal thing to be used.

TGU begins with the individual lying on their back with one arm holding the kettlebell straight up, above their head. The kettlebell should be held so that it rests on the forearm.

From this lying position the person is supposed to slowly and methodically get up on one knee and then move into a lunge position. From the lunge the person moves to a standing position. Throughout this movement, the kettlebell is held straight over head.

Sustaining this position while progressing through the movement is one of the major challenges and benefits of this exercise. Get the full benefit from the exercise by repeating on each side.

As the video suggests, it’s important to break this movement down into individual movement patterns. If you try to master the entire sequence at once, it may be overwhelming for most.

TGU is a great strengthening exercise for just about every muscle in your body. When done properly, it’s a great exercise that many people will be able to incorporate into their routines.

Due to the overall complexity and strength required, there will be those that will not reap the benefits of this movement.

Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Video Coming…