How To Do Side-to-Side Obliques

Side to Side Obliques is a core exercise that strengthens your obliques as well as the other muscles of the core including your transverse abdominus and rectus abdominus. Many ab exercises are more singular in nature, focusing on one specific part of the abs or another. If you learn how to do Side To Side Obliques you will encompass your entire abdominal area increasing the ability to flatten your belly and strengthen your low back.

Your oblique muscles are part of the entire picture of your core. Oblique muscles are crucial to core strength. They help you bend side to side, rotate right and left and stabilize and protect your spine. Your obliques have to work in harmony with all of your abdominal muscles to truly give you a tight tummy and a strong, stable back. If you want flat abs you need to look at the whole picture. Good eating, regular fat burning cardio and strength training are all-important. But the core exercises you do need to be all-inclusive. Many middle-age people complain about having a “muffin top” or that extra layer of fat that spills over the waistline of a pair of jeans. Getting rid of a muffin top requires that all-inclusive picture of eating right, exercising regularly, and doing well-rounded core moves.

When performing the Side to Side Obliques you will feel your waistline kicking in. This exercise encourages strength in the waistline and pulling in the area we often call a “muffin top.” Side To Side Obliques is a great move. Try it out and then explore another one of our oblique workouts: 9 Oblique Exercises to Tone Your Abs.

1) Lie on mat and bring knees into the chest forming a tabletop position. Bring the head, neck and shoulder off the mat coming into crunch reaching arms long at the sides.

2) Reach right fingers to the right side and forward then. Return to center and reach left fingers to the left side and forward. Switch side to side without lowering onto the mat.

Targets: core, back