Lie on your back with your calves laying atop a flat exercise bench. Place your hands behind your head or atop your chest.
1. Inhale and lift your shoulders off the floor.
2. Try to touch your knees with your head.
3. Exhale as you complete the movement, i.e., when your head touches your knees or is appropriately close to them. Return to starting position to repeat the next repetition.
Notes: This exercise focuses on the rectus abdominis, particularly above the navel.
By placing your torso farther from the bench you increase pelvic mobility, which allows your torso to move upward by contracting the iliopsoas, tensor fasciae latae, and rectus femoris in order to flex the hips.