How to Work Abdominal Obliques With Free Weights

Video Transcript

"The oblique muscles are part of the core. They run diagonally criss crossing down and up. This is Alice Monsaert on some techniques on how to strengthen the obliques using free weights. Our first exercise is in a standing position and I would like for you to take a warrior pose from yoga which means front foot faces forward and the back foot faces to the side. Take the weight in one hand and place it above the shoulder and simply slide the hand down the side looking up at the weight and exhaling as you come back up. Inhale on the way down and as you start to lift and as you start to lift you are going to start to feel those oblique muscles start to engage right there. If it is too hard to keep your head and face looking up you can face forward. How far down you should go depends on the flexibility of your hamstrings. A second great exercise for the obliques is down in a supine position. You are going to hold the free weight at your shoulder, place your hands behind your head and you are going to no do a twist and you are going to now go into flexion and rotation at the same time to engage those oblique muscles right here. We have got the added resistance at the shoulder. The elbow remains on the floor, flex and twist as you exhale to lift. Inhale, exhale. It is a very small movement. Avoid bringing the elbow in front of the shoulder or using momentum to roll to the side. So proper form and technique is very important when you are doing oblique exercises for back safety and for strength and effectiveness of the muscle. This is Alice and I hope incorporate exercise into your life every day."