How to do the Russian Twist
Step by step
- Sit on the floor with knees bent, then lean back until you feel your abs switch on.
- Hold your hands together or a light weight in front of your chest.
- Twist your torso to touch the weight toward the floor on one side.
- Rotate smoothly to the other side, keeping your chest lifted throughout.
The thing people get wrong
Turn from your midsection, not just your arms, and keep your back tall - rounding hard and rushing the twists strains the low back.
Coaching cue
Turn your head and chest with the twist and keep your feet still on the floor.
Make it easier or harder
- Easier: Keep your heels down and twist with no weight in your hands.
- Harder: Lift your feet off the floor, or hold a heavier weight.
Muscles worked
- Primary: Core
What to do instead
Same job, different movement — useful if you don't have the equipment or it doesn't feel right today.
Daily Coach builds this into a real weekly plan. It picks the exercises for your equipment and experience, swaps around injuries you tell it about, and tracks what you actually lifted.