How to do it
Keep your elbows wide and your gaze forward toward your knees.
- 1
Lie on your back with your knees bent, soles of your feet together, and hands behind your head.
- 2
Engage your abs and lift your shoulders and upper back off the floor in a crunch.
- 3
Hold the crunch for a moment, then slowly lower back down to the starting position.
- 4
Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, keeping the movement controlled.
Expert tip
Exhale as you crunch up and keep your lower back pressed into the floor to protect your spine.
Common mistakes
- ✕Pulling on the neck with the hands
- ✕Letting the knees lift during the crunch
- ✕Rushing the lowering phase back to the floor