V Sit | Illustrated Exercise Guide

Primary muscles: Abs
Secondary muscles: Upper back, quads, hamstrings
Equipment: No equipment
Exercise for the opposite muscles: Back extensions

V SIT INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start on your back with your legs at a 45-degree angle and with your hands and shoulders off the floor.
2. Lift your torso up and bend your knees.
3. Straighten your legs and slowly lower your torso back to the floor.
4. Repeat until the set is complete.

PROPER FORM AND BREATHING PATTERN

The v sit is an intermediate level exercise that requires core strength to be properly executed. You need to keep your back straight and your head and neck in a neutral position at all times. Breathe out as you lift your torso, using only your ab strength, and then slowly return to the starting position.

EXERCISE BENEFITS

If done correctly, the v sit is a very effective abdominal exercise. It’s important though not to rely on momentum and to fully engage your core for stability.

DEMONSTRATION

SETS AND REPS

Try to complete 20 to 25 reps of v sits and, if you’re a beginner, start practicing with seated knee tucks to acquire proper exercise form and gain core strength. You can also do a modified version of this exercise, called jack knife, where you keep the lower back flat on the floor during the entire exercise.

CALORIES BURNED

To calculate the number of calories burned doing the v sit, enter your weight and the duration of the exercise:

RELATED CORE EXERCISES

Try these other core exercises to tighten, sculpt and strengthen your abs, obliques, lats and lower back:
Russian twist
Bicycle crunches
Cobra lat pulldown
Cross crunches