STABILITY BALL STRAIGHT CRUNCH

Stability ball exercises work your entire abdominal region. The inherent instability of the ball not only forces the abdominals to work, but also the low back, glutes, and entire leg.

1.Lie back on a stability ball with the low back and midback supported by the ball. Bend the knees and keep the feet flat on the floor.

2.Place the hands in the appropriate position, depending on difficulty:

• Beginner — Position the shoulder blades just off the ball and cross the hands over the chest.
• Intermediate — Place the hands behind the head.
• Advanced — Place the arms straight overhead.
• Advanced plus — Place the arms straight overhead holding a weight plate.

3.Crunch up straight to the appropriate level of strength (small range of motion for beginner level and full range of motion for intermediate and advanced) and slowly lower back down to the starting position,trying to place one vertebra at a time down on the ball.