How to do it
Exhale sharply as you crunch to the side and pause for one second.
- 1
Sit on a padded stool with your feet flat and hands behind your head.
- 2
Lean to one side, engaging the oblique muscles on that side to crunch.
- 3
Return to the center and then lean to the opposite side.
- 4
Alternate sides for the desired number of repetitions.
Expert tip
Focus on contracting your oblique muscles to lift your body, rather than using momentum or leaning excessively to the side.
Common mistakes
- ✕Pulling on the head with the hands
- ✕Rotating forward instead of side-bending
- ✕Lifting the hips off the stool for leverage