Health aNd Fitness Guide

This is the crunch backward. Start by putting a towel between the knees so that the legs have a task to perform, forcing them to participate rather than just go along for the ride. Bunch up a towel or roll it nicely and pinch it between your knees. Hold the towel with comfortable pressure, not too tight.

Lift your feet off the floor and continue to hold the towel between the knees. If you find the towel uncomfortable, remove it and master the reverse curl with your legs alone. Hold your legs in a 45-degree bent position and bring your hands behind your head, as you do with crunches. Keep your head and shoulders on the floor the entire time so that you can emphasize the lower area of the abdominals.

Bring your legs back as a unit, so that your tail bone lifts off the floor because it has to. Gradually allow your legs to go back to the starting position, and then pull again. As you pull the legs in you should exhale.

After your set, bring your knees into your chest and stretch before you move on.