A core and ab workout.
Crunches are another popular exercise for people looking to get into shape. It’s popular because it’s not complicated and more importantly, if done right, it works.
Any exercise with the first instruction being ‘lie on your back’ is okay with us.
Again, as with all exercises, to maximise the benefit of the exercise, ensure that your technique is right. The benefits are great as crunches are a core-strengthening exercise which work the abs and pecs.
- Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, hip width apart.
- Place your hands on either side of your head; you do not need to lock your fingers nor should you have to pull you head up with your hands.
- Push the small of your back into the floor to work the abs.
- Tilt your chin slightly, leaving a few inches space between your chin and chest. If you’re Jimmy Hill, this may prove difficult.
- Begin to roll your shoulders off the floor.
- Your shoulders should leave the floor by about four inches and your lower back should always remain on the floor. You should feel a slight burn here, which shows you that the exercise is working.
- Hold the position at the top for a couple of seconds and then slowly lower yourself back into the starting position and repeat.
- Gradually build up the number of repetitions over time but ensure that you’ve mastered the proper technique first.
As with a lot of these exercises, there are many variations you can do, but we want you to keep it simple at the start and this technique is more than enough to set you on the way to a better, more toned body.
For more easy exercises, click here
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