Lie on your back with your legs bent and your feet on the floor. Place your hands behind your head or atop your chest. If you place your hands behind your head, be careful that you do not use your hands to pull your head or neck up for assistance. Doing so can injure your neck!
1. Inhale, contracting your muscles so that your torso raises your upper shoulders off the floor. Continue until the lower part of the shoulders/shoulder blades are just off the floor.
2. Exhale while you complete the movement.
3. Repeat without resting your torso.
4. Repeat as many repetitions as necessary until you feel a burning sensation in your abdominals. Also, maintain a constant tension on the ab muscles, i.e., squeeze them continually as you perform the exercise.
Notes: This exercise works the hip flexors, obliques, and focuses on the rectus abdominis.