The Best Abs Exercises

Top Exercises

Lever Seated Leg Raise Crunch

Intermediate / Leverage Machine / Abs / core

A compound core movement that targets both the upper and lower abdominals simultaneously by combining a leg raise with a torso crunch.

Band Overhead Side Bend

Intermediate / Handle Bands / Abs / isolation

Targets the obliques and improves lateral spinal mobility. Holding the band overhead increases the challenge to the core stabilizers.

Alternate Heel Touchers

Beginner / Bodyweight-only / Abs / isolation

A targeted core exercise for the obliques. The repetitive lateral flexion builds side-waist strength and improves spinal mobility.

Weighted Crunch

Intermediate / Dumbbells / Abs / core

A resistance-based abdominal exercise designed to build muscle thickness. Adding weight forces the rectus abdominis to work harder against gravity for maximum hypertrophy.

Tuck Crunch

Beginner / Bodyweight-only / Abs / core

Targets the upper and lower abdominals. The simultaneous movement of the torso and knees maximizes the contraction of the rectus abdominis.

Stability Ball Crunch

Beginner / Stability (Swiss) Ball / Abs / core

A classic core builder that utilizes an unstable surface to recruit more muscle fibers. It primarily strengthens the upper abdominals and improves spinal stability.

Sideways Lifts Vertical

Intermediate / Bodyweight-only / Abs / core

Targets the medial deltoids through a vertical range of motion. It builds shoulder roundness and improves overall upper-body silhouette.

Pulse-Up

Intermediate / Bodyweight-only / Abs / isolation

A high-tension core exercise for the lower abdominals. The vertical hip lift forces the rectus abdominis to work under constant load.

Potty Squat

Beginner / Bodyweight-only / Abs / squat

A deep squat designed to improve functional mobility and lower body flexibility. It emphasizes full range of motion in the hips, knees, and ankles.

Lever Seated Crunch

Intermediate / Leverage Machine / Abs / core

A weighted abdominal exercise that provides targeted resistance to the rectus abdominis. The seated position allows for better isolation of the core muscles.

Leg Extension Crunch

Beginner / Stability (Swiss) Ball / Abs / core

A complex abdominal movement that combines a traditional crunch with leg extension. It emphasizes both the upper and lower rectus abdominis for total core development.