Crunches

Crunches Instructions

• Lie back on the floor with your legs extended
• Arms are passively at your sides. 
• Take a breath out then "curl" your abdominals up.
• Imagine curling the bottom of your sternum towards your hips.
• Your abs should feel as if they are being sucked inward.
• Arms can elevate as if your hands are holding a small plate or dumbbell.
• At the top, your upper back is off the floor
• Uncurl from the top back to the starting position slowly. 
• Breathe out at the top and as you descend, again, feel your abs being sucked inward. 

*Tips*

• Keep your legs passive throughout the movement. Using your lower half with activate your hip flexors which will negate your abdominal musculature. 
• At first, your legs will want to elevate or "spray" out. Through practice and greater core stability, you will be able to execute the crunch without much hip flexor involvement. 
• You are "curling" your body using your abdominals to complete the exercise.