In the last week I’ve been asked three times on Facebook for my top 3 oblique exercises…so today I’m going to give you my top 5.

Is that okay if I give you 5 cool exercises instead of 3? Oh, and none of them involve useless pain-in-the-neck crunches.

Here they are…

1) Cross-Body Mountain Climbers

One of my favorite ab exercises in general, this provides an intense contraction in those muscles that show up on the beach running down into your swimsuit. These are eye-catching muscles…as you can see in my “so famous it’s infamous” abs photo on my site.

2) KB or DB Renegade Rows

It doesn’t matter if you use a kettlebell or flat/hexagonal dumbbells for this one, the renegade row requires an intense ab contraction to maintain proper form.

Both of these exercises are hard to describe but you can get them on the Turbulence Training for Abs DVDs – click here.

You can do these exercises with me in the comfort of your own home.

3) Spiderman Pushups & Spiderman Climb Pushups

In the past 5 years I’ve made these two exercises extremely popular in the fitness world, and even though they are a push-up, they still both work your obliques extra hard.

4) High Rep DB Rows

Another “non-ab exercise”, but high-rep dumbbell rows done with perfect form and a challenging weight will give you tremendous soreness the next day.

I should mention that all top trainers now understand that the purpose of your abs is NOT to violently twist and crunch your torso, but instead to hold it straight and stable, RESISTING the rotation that “out of touch” trainers are telling you to do.

So with these exercises, not only are you getting a set of amazing abs and obliques, but you’re also saving your back and neck from the pain that comes with crunches and situps.

5) Stability Ball Cross-Body Mountain Climbers

Finally, an advanced version of the regular cross-body mountain climber. This adds more upper body work but still does a number on your obliques and your six pack abs. This is another one you’ll need to do with me on video.

Honorable Mentions:

a) Planks, Stability Ball Planks, & Side Planks

Not exciting but quite effective…& if you think these are “too easy”, you ain’t doin’ them right. Research shows side planks to be more effective for your obliques than many traditional crunches.

b) Hanging leg raises & Chin-ups+Knee-ups

These are advanced movements, but they work your “lower abs”…and your lower abs are, as Dr. McGill explains, really just where your obliques insert onto the iliac crest…so that’s why these are great oblique exercises as well.

c) Stability Ball Jackknives & Stability Ball Jackknife Rotations

These are similar to the cross-body mountain climber variations, although both legs move up together.

Again, words just can’t do these exercises justice, and unfortunately I can’t fly to everyone’s house to take you through a workout.

That’s why I’ve put together all of my favorite ab exercises, for both beginners and advanced in your complete TT for Abs DVD program. It’s like having me in your home training you in person…and going through each and every rep of every exercise together.

Your abs will thank you for it.

To your lean sexy summer abs,

Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Creator, TT for Abs DVDs – Workout At Home With Me!