How to do Russian sit-ups and exercise benefits –

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Want a workout for your potent core? So, you need to add Russian abs to your workout routine. “It’s a variation of the traditional sit-up, but with trunk rotation”, explains physical education professional Cássio Fidlay, known for being the personal of celebrities like Shantal and Carla Diaz.

This movement, according to him, works the region as a whole, but the emphasis is on the obliques in the serratus muscle (the lateral “part” of the belly, you know?).

BENEFITS

The benefits of exercise are numerous. By making the musculature stronger, some movements (both day to day and training) become easier to do. Still, you have greater spine stabilization and consequently improve possible back pain and nuisance.

The only contraindication is given to people with spinal problems (such as disc protrusion or herniated disc). “In this case, you must be very careful during the execution, or even avoid the movement if you are a beginner or do not know how to perform it correctly. That’s because the wrong rotation, for these people, can cause vertebrae injuries.

HOW TO DO RUSSIAN ABDOMINALS

“As with any and all exercises, the main thing is to keep the abdominal contraction rigid, maintaining correct breathing, doing a spine flexion followed by a rotation of the same.”

Cássio Fidlay recommends starting on one side, and then repeating for the other. Once you’re familiar with the exercise, then you can alternate rotation to both sides. See the step by step:

Sit on the floor and stretch your legs, taking them off the floor;
Lean back slightly so that your torso and legs form a V, contracting your abs;
Rotate the torso from side to side;
Remember to move slowly and breathe.