Crunch

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your hands lightly beside your head or over your chest. Keep your back on the floor, lower your ribs slightly, and prepare to curl your torso with your core.

Curl your upper body a short distance as if flattening your stomach. Your core can contract fully once your shoulders lift from the floor.

Lower your upper body slowly. Do not overextend your back at the bottom; return while keeping your core engaged.

Focus on curling your ribs toward your pelvis rather than lifting high. You are on target when the front of your abs folds and tightens.

Pulling your head or rising too high makes your neck and hip flexors work first. Use a shorter range if your abs engage better there.

Exhale slowly as you rise and inhale as you lower. Finish the exhale to deepen the abdominal contraction.

A 1-second pause at the top can be more effective than using a large range. Check often that your lower back stays on the floor.