Fitness culture is full of intensity: reps, sets, sweat, and grit. But every now and then, you stumble across an exercise name so ridiculous you can’t help but laugh. From barnyard animals to breakfast foods, the gym is packed with moves that sound more like jokes than workouts. Here’s a round-up of the silliest names in exercise—and why they’re more effective than they sound.
- The Donkey Kick 🐴
No, you don’t need a stable. This glute exercise has you on all fours, kicking one leg skyward like a donkey having a tantrum. Silly name aside, it’s a powerhouse move for strengthening your hips and glutes.
- The Fire Hydrant 🚰
Continuing the animal theme, this one mimics what a dog does on a street corner. You lift your leg out to the side while on all fours—excellent for hip mobility, but you’ll feel just as silly as you look.
- The Dead Bug 🪲
Few things scream “fitness” less than lying on your back waving arms and legs in the air like an upside-down insect. But this core exercise is fantastic for improving stability and coordination. Just ignore the mental image.
- The Bird Dog 🐕🦅
Half dog, half bird, 100% confusing. On hands and knees, you extend the opposite arm and leg—like a dog pointing at prey, apparently. Silly name, serious benefits for posture and balance.
- The Turkish Get-Up 🇹🇷
This full-body exercise involves lying on the ground, holding a weight overhead, and then standing up—without letting go. Why “Turkish”? No one’s entirely sure. What we do know: it’s brutally effective and impressively odd-sounding.
- The Inch Worm 🪱
Stand tall, fold forward, walk your hands out into a plank, then shuffle your feet up behind you. Repeat. Yes, you’ll feel like a giant worm inching across the floor. Yes, it’s a great warm-up.
- The Prone Cobra 🐍
Lie face-down, lift your chest, and squeeze your shoulder blades together. With arms back and palms out, you’re meant to look like a cobra flaring its hood. Menacing? Maybe. Silly? Absolutely.
- The Superman 🦸
This one has you lying on your stomach with arms and legs extended, then lifting everything off the ground like you’re soaring through the sky. Bonus points if you hum a theme tune.
5 Exercises That Should Exist 🌀
If fitness trends keep getting stranger, we’ll soon need new names to keep up. Here are five made-up moves that deserve a place on the gym floor:
- Angry Flamingo Squats 🦩 – Balancing on one leg, flapping your arms, and squatting like a bird defending its turf.
- Confused Octopus Stretch 🐙 – Flail your arms in eight different directions during a warm-up. Perfect for loosening shoulders (and confusing gym partners).
- Penguin Power March 🐧 – Shuffle quickly side to side with tiny steps, arms pinned to your sides. Great for cardio, terrible for dignity.
- Kangaroo Hops 🦘 – Bound across the room with exaggerated jumps. Add a pouch (or fanny pack) for extra authenticity.
- Sleepy Sloth Pull-Ups 🦥 – Hang from a bar, move painfully slowly, and take a nap halfway up. Builds patience as much as strength.
Final Thought
Exercise is serious business, but the names don’t have to be. In fact, the sillier the name, the more memorable the move. So next time you’re working through donkey kicks or inch worms, laugh it off—because fitness should be fun, even if it makes you look (and sound) a little ridiculous.