Cable Crunch

Attach a rope handle to a high cable pulley. Kneel facing the machine with the rope held behind your head, elbows pointing down. Crunch forward and downward by contracting your abs, bringing your elbows toward your knees and rounding your upper back. Hold the contracted position briefly, then slowly return to the starting position with your core still under tension.

Pro Tips

• The cable provides resistance at the top of the movement — unlike crunches on the floor
• The movement is in your spine, not your hips — do not pull with your arms or rock at the hip
• Think of driving your ribcage toward your pelvis rather than your head toward the floor