Core
Standing Side Crunches
A functional standing core movement that targets the obliques while improving lateral stability and balance.
How to perform.
Follow the sequence — setup is half the lift.
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands placed lightly behind your head with elbows flared out.
Shift your weight onto your left leg while maintaining a slight bend in the knee for balance.
Lift your right knee toward your right elbow by contracting the muscles on the side of your waist.
Lower your right shoulder toward your right hip simultaneously to maximize the contraction of the obliques.
Pause for a moment at the top of the movement when the knee and elbow are at their closest point.
Slowly lower your leg back to the starting position with control to complete one repetition.
Complete the set on one side before switching to the other leg or alternate sides as preferred.
Common mistakes.
Fix these first — they cost reps, kilos, and joints.
- Pulling on the neck or head with the hands
- Leaning forward instead of strictly to the side
- Using momentum to swing the leg up
- Holding the breath during the contraction
- Collapsing the chest and rounding the upper back
Muscles worked.
The primary movers do the work; the stabilizers keep the path honest.