RUSSIAN TWIST

This exercise requires a lot of balance so that you can work your core.

1. Sit on the ground with your legs stretched out, and your arms by your sides.

2. Lean back so that your legs lift from the ground, keeping your knees slightly bent. Gently lean your back forward. Clasp your hands together in the centre of your chest. Use your legs to try and stay balanced!

*Variation: If it's too hard to lift your legs up and stay balanced, try keeping your feet planted on the ground instead. You will still work your target core muscles.

3. Twist your torso to the left and right, squeezing your ab muscles on each turn for a brief second. Your legs should stay off the ground, and it's okay if your legs slightly move as you keep your balance.

4. Try to keep your head facing forward with each turn. Only your torso should be twisting. Your clasped hands should be moving to the left and right as your twist your torso.

5. Exhale as you reach the peak of each twist left and right, when you squeeze your ab muscles for a brief second.

The Russian Twist exercise targets your core and abdominal muscles. This exercise involves twisting your torso to the left and right, which helps you work more than just your 6-pack muscle, you are also working your Internal and External Oblique muscles, which are located beside your 6-pack muscle.

Your famous 6-pack muscle is called your Rectus Abdominis, located right in the centre of your chest. As you get into the Russian Twist position, by lifting your legs and gently leaning your back forward, you are already working your Rectus Abdominis. As you twist your torso left and right, you start working your Internal and External Obliques, located on the sides of your Rectus Abdominis.

*However, if you do this exercise without lifting your legs from the ground, you will only be targeting your Internal and External Oblique muscles.