Sit-ups may be one of the oldest exercises in the book, but they’re also one of the most hated (alongside Bulgarian split squats). While they may target your external and internal abdominal muscles, they tend to favour those superficial ab muscles more. Plus, they can put a lot of pressure on your lower back! Not a fan? This four-move workout from fitness coach, Elise Young, not only hits more of those deep core muscles, but they’re easier on your lower back and joints too.
Strengthening your deep core muscles will also give you far more than just abs. It’ll help you execute bigger lifts in the gym (think squats and deadlifts), improve your stability, and improve your posture which, in turn can have a big impact on your mental health. A 2014 study published in Health Psychology found that those who sat with better posture during a stressful task had a more positive mood and higher levels of self-esteem, than those who slouched.
