This simple — and literal — twist on the crunch exercise places more demand on your obliques, the muscles that wrap around the sides of your torso. Depending on your spinal mobility, you may not be able to place your legs flat on the floor — that's OK.
- Start lying face-up on a mat with your knees bent and your feet flat on the mat. Your heels should be about a foot away from your hips. From this position, lower both legs to the right. Your right leg should be on the ground, and your left leg should be stacked on top of the right. Your upper back and shoulders should be flat on the mat.
- With your hands behind your head or crossed in front of your chest, engage your core (gently brace your abdominal muscles) and slowly lift your shoulders off the ground, performing a crunch.
- With control, lower your body back down to the starting position. That's one rep.
- Try 10 reps on each side. Do a total of three sets.
