The Ab Exercise That Doesn’t Irritate Your Neck

How do you refresh a tired ab routine? By taking your workout off the mat. Standing exercises are effective at engaging the muscles of your core while promoting proper posture — no more cranking your neck to pump out a set of crunches.

One move to try is the standing reverse woodchop. It’s a beginner-friendly exercise that targets your oblique muscles in a functional, safe way. To do it, grab a dumbbell or medicine ball and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Hold the weight with both hands just outside your right hip. Bend your knees and lower into a squat. As you stand, bring the weight across the front of your torso on a diagonal until it is above your left shoulder. Pause, then reverse the movement, immediately lowering to begin the next rep. Start with two sets of 8-10 reps on each side.

Now, you can stand up while you lean in.