Abdominal Crunches: Troubleshooting

Abdominal Crunches: Troubleshooting

Keep your neck in line with your spine. Don't stick your chin out. Don't hold your breath. To keep chest and shoulders open, keep your elbows out of your line of vision.

Abdominal Crunches - Method B

Abdominal Crunches - Method B

Do crunches with your feet off the floor and knees bent. This technique may help you avoid arching your back; it also engages your hip flexors.

Abdominal Crunches - Method A

Abdominal Crunches - Method A

Begin by lying on your back with feet flat on the floor and palms supporting your head. Press your low back down. Contract abdominals and raise first your head (tucking your chin slightly), then your neck, shoulders, and upper back off the floor.

Push-ups: Too Hard? Too Easy?

Push-ups: Too Hard? Too Easy?

Beginners may start doing push-ups leaning into their kitchen counters, then working their way down to a desk or chair, onto the floor with knees bent, and on the floor on their toes. To make it harder, put your feet on a stair, bench, or couch while maintaining good form.

PUSH-UPS

Push-ups

Why it's a winner: Push-ups strengthen the chest, shoulders, triceps, and core muscles.
How to: Face-down, place hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Place toes or knees on the floor, creating a smooth line with your body, from shoulders to knees or feet. Keeping rear-end muscles and abdominals engaged, lower and lift your body by bending and straightening your elbows, keeping your torso stable throughout the move.

SQUATS TECHNIQUE TIPS

Technique Tip

Practice with a real chair to master this move. First, sit all the way down in the chair and stand back up. Next, don't sit all the way down; barely touch the chair's seat before standing back up. Lastly, graduate to doing squats without a chair.