Kettlebell Halo

Circle the bell around your head. A shoulder and thoracic mobility drill that doubles as a low-load core warm-up.

· 2 min read

kettlebell · mobility · shoulders · warm up · halo

The lesson

  1. 1

    Hold it upside down by the horns

    The horns are the two upright sides of the handle. Flip the bell over and take one in each hand at chest height.

  2. 2

    Circle close to your head

    Pass it around your skull, staying close, eyes forward. Ribs down and glutes tight so only your shoulders move.

  3. 3

    The test

    Tight shoulders mean a smaller, slower circle — not a wider one. If your lower back arches or your hips sway as the bell passes behind you, go smaller and squeeze your glutes harder.

Kettlebell Halo

How to do it

Hold the bell upside down by the horns at chest height. Slowly pass it in a circle around your head — close to your skull, eyes forward. Trace one full circle each direction. Keep your glutes tight and your ribs down so only your shoulders move.

Why it's good for runners

The halo opens up your shoulders and upper back without loading the spine. It's a great warm-up before any pressing or overhead work, and the off-center bell forces your core to hold position the whole time.

Common mistakes

Don't let the bell drift forward in front of your face — that means your shoulders are tight; slow down and make the circle smaller. If your ribs flare or hips shift, your core has checked out.

Appears in these routines

Power · 02

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