A beginner strength exercise done using just your bodyweight that mainly works the abdominals. Lie flat on your back and bend your knees about 60 degrees. Keep your feet flat on the floor and place your hands loosely behind your head. This will be your starting position.
Updated
Primary
Abdominals
Equipment
Bodyweight
Level
beginner
Cross-Body Crunch demonstration
Cross-Body Crunch, starting positionCross-Body Crunch, finishing position
How to Perform
1Lie flat on your back and bend your knees about 60 degrees.
2Keep your feet flat on the floor and place your hands loosely behind your head. This will be your starting position.
3Now curl up and bring your right elbow and shoulder across your body while bring your left knee in toward your left shoulder at the same time. Reach with your elbow and try to touch your knee. Exhale as you perform this movement. Tip: Try to bring your shoulder up towards your knee rather than just your elbow and remember that the key is to contract the abs as you perform the movement; not just to move the elbow.
4Now go back down to the starting position as you inhale and repeat with the left elbow and the right knee.
5Continue alternating in this manner until all prescribed repetitions are done.
Video Tutorial
Tips & Common Mistakes
•Focus on controlled movements rather than speed or momentum
•Maintain proper breathing - exhale during the exertion phase
•Start with lighter weight to master the form before progressing
•This is a great exercise for beginners - focus on form over reps
•As a compound movement, this exercise works multiple muscle groups efficiently
