Crunch
Step by step
How to perform
- Place your hands behind your head or across your chest, and ensure that your lower back remains in contact with the ground.
- Inhale and then as you exhale, engage your abdominal muscles by pulling your belly button towards your spine and lift your upper body, including your shoulders and back, off the ground towards your knees.
- Hold at the top of the movement for a moment, then slowly lower back down while inhaling.
- Repeat this movement for your desired number of repetitions, ensuring to keep your abdominal muscles engaged and your movements controlled throughout the exercise.
Overview
About this exercise
The Crunch is a classic core exercise that targets the abdominal muscles, helping to improve posture, reduce back pain, and enhance overall body strength. It is suitable for individuals at all fitness levels, from beginners to advanced athletes, due to its adjustable intensity. People would want to do this exercise to build a strong core foundation, enhance their physical appearance, and support other physical activities that require a strong midsection.
Coaching cues
Form tips
The key to an effective crunch is to engage your abdominal muscles. As you lift your upper body off the floor, focus on using your abs rather than your neck or upper body to pull yourself up. This will help you get the most out of the exercise and avoid unnecessary strain.
Avoid rushing through the movement. Ensure each crunch is performed slowly and with control. Lower your body back down to the starting position with equal control to maximize the effectiveness of the exercise.
Breathe out as you lift your body and breathe in as you lower it. This will help keep your movements controlled and steady
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