Lower-body rotation puts a twist on, well, a twist

It’s common to perform twists by rotating your upper body while keeping your lower body stationary, such as when you lie on the floor to do oblique curls or when you stand or sit to do spinal twists. But here’s a new variation to practice: Twist your lower body while keeping your upper body stationary in an elbow plank.

-- Karen Voight

1 Start on all fours, then place your elbows on the floor directly below your shoulders. Turn your palms down to the floor with your forearms parallel to each other. Now straighten your legs and form a straight line with your body. Keep your hips down at shoulder height as you pull your abdominals up toward your spine. Pause for a moment and inhale.

2 On an exhale, slowly begin twisting your hips to the left side as you roll to the inner edge of your right foot and the outer edge of your left foot. Concentrate on keeping your hips low, your abs firm and your shoulders facing squarely to the floor. Pause for a moment, then return to center on an inhale. Exhale and twist your hips to the right side and return to center. Continue until you have completed four to six twists on each side.

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Karen Voight can be reached at kvoightla@aol.com.