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To hit them all in your workouts, some are harder to reach than others.
And this is exactly why a lot of trainers turn to the scissors exercise.
Since your legs are moving throughout the exercise, it doubles as a lower body strengthening move, too.
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It has the dual purpose of lengthening and creating a foundation for your core muscle groups, he says.
Doing scissor-style abs exercises can also address imbalances within your lower body.
Our quadriceps tend to be overdeveloped in relation to the other muscles in the inner legs, says Marcellus.
Crouchelli prefers adding weights, resistance bands, or towels if you want to upgrade the move.
My favorite variation is to incorporate a towel.
Creating tension with a towel will engage the core from the start, he says.
First off: having the lower back lifted.
The exercise is all about length and depth.
Work only in the range of motion you’re free to to keep your legs straight.
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She adds that back strain can happen when your knees are bent, too.
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Before you knock out some repsas is the case with all exerciseswarming up is important.
As your hamstrings loosen up and your transverse abdominals strengthen, your range of motion and endurance will increase.
How to do the scissors exercise
1.
Move with slow and controlled movements.
Do four sets of 45 seconds on with a 15-second break.
Ascending cross-scissor kicks
Crouchelli likes this variation to switch things up while still working your transverse abdominals.
Start by lying flat on your back with your legs pointed directly out above your hips.
Slowly flutter your feet in opposite directions.
Think of raising your flutter kicks upwards on a five second count.
Do four sets of 45 seconds on with a 15 second break.
Towel scissor kick
Lie flat on your back with a towel or resistance band pressed straight above your sightline.
Press your lower back into the mat and elevate your legs above your hips.
Using the towel, allow your arms to create tension by pulling it away from each end.
Slowly alternate your legs in a scissor pattern by lifting one leg up as the opposite leg lowers.
Crouchelli adds that you should think of pressing your bellybutton into the floor throughout the exercise.
Do four sets of 45 seconds on with a 15 second break.
Scissor walks
Marcellus recommends trying two variations of scissor walks.
Lie flat on your back as you draw your legs straight up to the ceiling.
Place the heel of your right foot in the instep of your left.
Repeat this two more times and then begin working your way back up in a set of four crosses.
Focus on pulling your legs longer and deepening the abdominals further throughout the exercise.
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