All about the Upper Circle Crunch
(Pilates for Abs)
BENEFITS & MUSCLES WORKED: Abs, Obliques
START POSITION: Lie on your Back, put your hands behind your head, and flare your elbows out to the sides. Bend your knees up until your feet are flat on the floor. Lift your head and Shoulders clear of the ground, keeping your hands in place.
NOTES: Difficulty Rating: 47%
The Upper Circle Crunch should be performed with slow and smooth rotations, involving several rotations in the same direction before switching to the opposite direction. You should roll from having one shoulder planted into the ground – moving down and around, until the other shoulder is planted, and the opposite shoulder is now raised. Keep your Abs tensed at all times.
The Upper Circle Crunch exercise will work the Obliques as well as the Upper and Middle Abs, so you’re getting a double hit.
I found this interesting ABS YouTube video, which graphically explains the 4 X 2 configuration of the Abs muscles and shows which exercises pertain to the different parts of the Abs and Obliques.