Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet about 12 inches from your butt. Put your hands behind your ears with your elbows out wide.
Focusing on your core muscles, lift your chest up until your head, shoulders, and upper back are off the floor. This is key for a crunch that has maximum contraction (instead of just lifting your head and neck off the ground). Keep your ribcage and belly button pulled in. James says to make sure your head does not push forward.