1. Start by lying on your back on a comfortable surface, knees bent, and feet flat on the ground, hip-width apart.
2. Place your hands across your chest with your arms crossed or place your palms on opposite shoulders.
3. Engage your abdominal muscles by drawing your belly button in toward your spine.
4. Slowly lift your upper body off the ground, keeping your back straight and your chin slightly tucked. Imagine you are bringing your ribcage towards your pelvis.
5. Exhale as you lift your body upwards toward your thighs.
6. Once your upper body is as close to your thighs as it can comfortably get, pause at the top of the movement.
7. Inhale and slowly lower yourself back down to the starting position.
8. Repeat the movement for the desired number of repetitions and sets.
Tips:
- Control your movement throughout the exercise to maximize abdominal contraction and prevent momentum from assisting the lift.
- Avoid pulling on your neck or swinging your arms to help you sit up.
- To avoid strain on the back, do not arch your lower back excessively during the exercise.
- Adjust the difficulty by varying the speed of the sit-ups and the number of repetitions and sets.
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