Begin lying on your back with your legs in the air, toes toward the ceiling, holding a five- to 15-pound medicine ball or dumbbell over your chest (or use no weight at all). Engage your abs to press your lower back into the mat while lifting your head, neck, and upper back off the mat.
Exhale as you lift your upper body an inch higher off the mat.
Inhale, and lower your pelvis and upper back an inch toward the floor. This completes one rep.
Continue pulsing the torso up and down for a total of 25 reps.