Alternating heel-touch

The alternating heel-touch is a popular bodyweight exercise that targets the obliques, as well as the rectus abdominis, or "six-pack" muscles. It can be performed for time or reps as part of any abs-focused circuit or workout.

Benefits

  1. Increases core strength in the obliques and the rectus abdominis
  2. Engages upper-back muscles
  3. Great beginner exercise for targeting obliques
  4. Rectus abdominis contract isometrically while obliques contract dynamically
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Alternating heel-touch Images

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Alternating heel-touch Instructions

Alternating heel-touch muscle diagram
  1. Lie on the floor with the knees bent and the feet on the floor around 18-24 inches apart. Your arms should be extended by your side. This will be your starting position.
  2. Crunch over your torso forward and up about 3-4 inches to the right side and touch your right heel as you hold the contraction for a second. Exhale while performing this movement.
  3. Now go back slowly to the starting position as you inhale.
  4. Now crunch over your torso forward and up around 3-4 inches to the left side and touch your left heel as you hold the contraction for a second. Exhale while performing this movement and then go back to the starting position as you inhale. Now that both heels have been touched, that is considered 1 repetition.
  5. Continue alternating sides in this manner until all prescribed repetitions are done.

Variations: None