Summary: A medicine ball crunch variation like the "reach for the sky" is great for core muscles. Learn medicine ball exercises for strength training and conditioning in this free fitness video.
Sue Conrad is a personal trainer with a certification through the American Council on Exercise (ACE) since 2001. She currently teaches cardio kickboxing, and she trains clients of...read more
"Okay this clip is going to be reach for the sky. Now what you're going to do is extend your legs all the way up. Okay grab your medicine ball with both hands. You're going to reach to the sky or your toes. Extend. This is going to help work the lower abdominal muscles. You'll also feel it in your quadricep muscles. So it's an extra added bonus. And since you're using a weighted ball you're also going to feel it in your forearms and your biceps. Now if you have back issues one option you have for this exercise is to bend the knees ninety degrees. You're still going to feel it in your low abs. Okay by doing this option you're just going to not feel as much stress on the back and if you still need some additional stability and support you can cross your ankles and lift up. Now for an extra added challenge if you find the straight legs isn't challenging enough you can keep a little bit of a gap there to increase the challenge."
eHow Article: Medicine Ball Reach for the Sky