Movement overview

The Side Crunch is an abdominal exercise targeting the oblique muscles. It involves a lateral flexion of the spine, engaging the side muscles of the abdomen to enhance core stability and definition.

Step-by-step cues

1. Lie on your side on a mat with your knees bent and stacked on top of each other.
2. Place your bottom arm extended on the floor for support and your top hand behind your head.
3. Engage your core by pulling your belly button towards your spine.
4. Lift your upper body towards your hip, contracting your obliques.
5. Hold the contraction for a moment at the top of the movement.
6. Slowly lower back down to the starting position.
7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions before switching sides.

Technical tips

• Focus on using your obliques to lift your torso rather than pulling with your neck or shoulders.
• Keep movements controlled and avoid using momentum to ensure maximum muscle engagement.
• Exhale as you crunch up and inhale as you return to the starting position.
• Ensure that your neck remains in a neutral position throughout the exercise to avoid strain.
• Perform the exercise slowly to maintain tension on the muscles and improve effectiveness.