Return to the starting position and repeat. Exhale as you slowly lift your shoulders off the floor and move your body straight up. If you’ve fallen out of love with your love handles, side plank crunches can help you work your obliques and hips. What should I do? She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002. Activate your side body muscles on the side you are leaning towards to help compress you on that side so you can reach further down the leg. Say no more. Created for Greatist by the experts at Healthline. If you are pregnant, ask a doctor before performing this exercise. Bonus: Strengthening these muscles helps improve your posture and protects your back! Lift your shoulders off the floor, squeeze the obliques and hold for 1 to 2 seconds. Avoid round your back. Us too. Daniel Bubnis, M.S., NASM-CPT, NASE Level II-CSS, Check yourself before you wreck yourself: Proper form, Switch it up: How to modify side plank crunches, The 21 Best Bodyweight Exercises for a Strong Core, 47 Crazy-Fun Plank Variations for a Killer Core, The Quiet Workout: A Killer Home Routine That Won’t Annoy Your Neighbors, Sweat It Out at Home: 11 Exercises That Work Every Part of Your Body. This exercise helps to sculpt the waist, giving you a more shapely body. Follow these fit women we're crushing on for inspiration, workout ideas, and motivation. This article was co-authored by Michele Dolan. The benefits of these exercises are increased strength and flexibility in your core muscles. With the right plan and the right discipline, you can get seriously shredded in just 28 days. Ready to kick your workout up a notch? The side-to-side crunch and weave builds strength in the midsection while also incorporating a cardio training component. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Commit to a healthy new lifestyle and become a premium member of our website. 2. It depends on your body type and the exercises you're doing, but it will usually take a few months. This workout combines cardio and weight-lifting drills for serious body-sculpting results. Or, are you just trying to lose weight? This article has been viewed 124,537 times. Exercise for the opposite muscles: Superman. SIDE CRUNCH INSTRUCTIONS. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Keep your elbows pointing straight out to the sides. Feeling confused about where to put your hands and hips? We all need somebody to lean on, and keeping your bottom knee and hand on the floor during this move will give you more support. Primary muscles: Internal and external obliques The side-to-side crunch and weave builds strength in the midsection while also incorporating a cardio training component. Here are 21 bodyweight exercises to take your ab routine up a notch and fire up your core. Alternate from side to side while keeping your abs engaged, treating each side as a separate rep. Bring leg and arm back to the starting position in a steady, controlled motion. Secondary muscles: Core These step-by-step instructions will make you a plank pro. See instructions. Don't allow hips to wiggle. Here’s how to take this classic ab exercise up a notch, whether you’re a beginner or a plank…. Instead, keep spine long and back flat. Performing this exercise may help tighten and tone the sides of your torso, but you will still need to follow a diet and do other types of exercise to lose weight. Roll to the other side to complete a matching set of side plank crunches. Adjust your routine without losing sight of your health and fitness goals! A disinfectant spray should be available at your gym. © 2020 Greatist a Red Ventures Company. Quesadillas are a crowd favorite, and this easy chicken quesadilla … [Read More...], This Mango, Banana & Passion Fruit Smoothie Bowl is a thick blend … [Read More...], Are you tired of always craving sweets and binging on sugary snacks? How about lean muscle? By using our site, you agree to our, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Do-Side-to-Side-Crunches-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Do-Side-to-Side-Crunches-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Do-Side-to-Side-Crunches-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1737474-v4-728px-Do-Side-to-Side-Crunches-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"