How to Do the Sidelying Oblique Elbow to Knee

This exercise helps to strengthen and tone the oblique muscles that are located in your waist. This is the area people often refer to as the love handles. While you need regular aerobic exercise to help lose any excess weight you can combine aerobics with core exercises to help tone your midsection. While it is not possible to spot reduce, combining toning exercises with aerobics will give you maximum results in managing your weight and your waistline.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Lie on your left side on the floor. Make sure you stack shoulder over shoulder and hip over hip so you are not rolling backwards or forwards. Both knees should be slightly bent.

2. Stretch your left arm straight out with the palm facing down and rest your head on your left arm. Place the fingertips of your right hand behind your head.

3. Tighten the waist muscles, exhale and bending at your waist lift your head and left shoulder off the floor. At the same time, lift your right knee towards your elbow.

4. On the inhale, slowly lower everything back down.

5. Do 8 to 12 repetitions. Focus on using your waist muscles to lift you up. Repeat on the other side.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you are bending at the waist and not twisting. Imagine you are standing and doing a side bend.
• This exercise should not cause neck strain. Focus on tightening the muscles of the waist as you lift and do not pull on your neck as you come up.

Resources

• Sidelying Oblique Crunch

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