Twisting Crunches
Overview
This exercise focuses on your obliques and abdominal muscles. Your oblique muscles extend from under your arm, down to your hip bone. These muscles control bending and flexing at the waist, and also help with respiration.
Obliques are very important. Abs are a paired muscle that run vertically down your abdomen, from just below your pecs, down to your pubic crest.
Tendinous intersections cross your abs horizontally, which is what gives you the six or eight pack look. Abs are the anterior part of your core muscles, and help keep you upright.
Instructions
To begin, roll back down until you’re flat on your back, keeping your knees up.
These are just like regular crunches, except you’ll be twisting your elbow to the opposite knee. Keep your lower back flat on the mat.Now bring the other elbow up to the opposite side, remembering to exhale as you contract your muscles, and inhale as your relax.
Tips
A common mistake is to put your hands behind your head. This may pull your neck. That’s why I recommend crossing your arms or holding them at the side of your head.
You should be able to perform three sets of 20 reps. Remember, crunching your left side, then your right side, is one rep.
And that’s how you perform crunch twists. Thanks for watching!
