10 Easy Exercises To Get You Fit For Summer

8. Oblqiue Crunches

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR6xf-epdSs

 The Exercise: In addition to working your Rectus Abdominus, you need to spend some time and attention on the Obliques; the muscles on either side of your six pack. Working this area helps draw in the waist, and when properly defined these muscles create the "V" shaped line that most people associate with gymnasts and swimmers.

Again, the starting position is the same as the crunches. Lie on your back, knees bent, feet on the floor. Gently curl your head and shoulders up while rotating to one side. Imagine that your goal is to bring your right elbow in to touch your left knee. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side, with your left elbow reaching towards your right knee. Your lower back should stay glued to the ground at all times.

Make It Harder: Keep your hands out in front of you as you bring your body up instead of having your elbows bent. Reach forwards on each side of your body as you reach the top of the movement. Or just move as slowly as possible to really work your Obliques.

Easy Workout: Perform each exercise in turn, doing ten reps each, moving from one to the other without a break. Once you've finished, have thirty seconds to two minutes rest and start again. Aim to get through the whole thing three times. 

Contributor
Contributor

With a (nearly) useless degree in English literature and a personal trainer qualification he's never used, Freddie spends his times writing things that he hopes will somehow pay the rent. He's also a former professional singer, and plays the saxophone and ukulele. He's not really used to talking about himself in the third person, and would like to stop now, thanks.