Sit-Up

The sit-up is a bodyweight core exercise. It trains your abs through a full range of motion, and your hip-flexors help pull your torso up.

Lie on your back. Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor, about hip-width apart. You can tuck your feet under a sturdy object if you need support. Cross your arms over your chest, or place your fingertips lightly by your ears.

Exhale as your shoulders leave the floor. Curl your torso up until you sit fully upright. Reverse slowly and lower yourself with control until your shoulder blades touch the floor.

Breathe out as you lift and in as you lower. Keep your abs tight rather than holding your breath. To make it easier, anchor your feet or reduce the range of motion. To make it harder, reach your arms overhead or slow down the lowering phase.

Fault: Pulling on the neck with hands locked behind the head. Fix: Cross your arms over your chest or rest your fingertips gently by your ears so your abs do the work.

Fault: Dropping back down quickly or bouncing off the floor. Fix: Lower with control all the way down, keeping tension in your abs through the full range.

Fault: Only lifting the head and shoulders a few inches. Fix: Sit fully upright on every rep to use the full range to the top.