Arnold Schwarzenegger says the best exercise of all time is the clean and press

• Arnold Schwarzenegger said his all-time favorite exercise is the clean and press.
• "It covers everything," the bodybuilding icon told Men's Health.

As one of the most famous bodybuilders in the world, Arnold Schwarzenegger might be expected to favor classic bodybuilding movements such as bench presses, squats, or bicep curls.

However, when asked by Men's Health what his all-time favorite exercise is, the former Mr. Olympia picked an Olympic lift popular in CrossFit, the clean and press.

Usually performed with a barbell, the clean and press is what's known as a double movement compound lift, consisting first of a "pull" (the clean) and then a "push" (the press).

In the clean portion of the movement, you move the barbell up the body from the ground to a front rack position, resting across your collar bones, and in the press portion, you push the bar up above your head to finish with your arms extended and legs straight.

"If you do one thing, clean and press," Schwarzenegger said. "It covers everything."

Schwarzenegger has previously said that the deadlift is up there with the clean and press when it comes to the most efficient exercises, as Insider's Gabby Landsverk reported.

The clean and press works a large range of muscles

The clean and press is a complicated, explosive movement that can take some time to master, so not usually one for beginner weight-lifters. It can also be performed with a dumbbell or kettlebell.

A full body exercise, the clean and press works a large range of muscles including the core, shoulders, glutes, hamstrings, and arms. For this reason, it's a great way to build muscle as well as boosting cardiovascular fitness and muscular endurance, according to Very Well Fit.

Watch the below video to see a clean and press in action:

How to perform a barbell clean and press:

1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart with the barbell over your feet, a couple of inches away from your shins. Hinge at the hips and bend at the knees, keeping your back and arms straight and chest lifted, lowering yourself down to grab the bar with an overhand grip, with your hands outside your legs.
2. Keeping the bar close to your body and your core engaged, drive through the floor and pull the bar upwards in an explosive movement. As the bar passes your knees, shrug your shoulders and drop your body to catch the bar in a front rack position with your elbows high and your knees bent.
3. Push through your heels again and use your hips to straighten your legs and drive the bar upwards over your head, straightening your arms at the top.
4. Return to the start position by reversing the exercise: lower the bar to your shoulders and then to the floor, keeping your back straight and core engaged.