V-Ups
CoreMuscles worked
corehip flexors
- Equipment
- No equipment
- Level
- Intermediate
- How much to do
- 8–12 reps per set.
How to do it
- Lie on your back with your arms extended overhead and your legs straight.
- Brace your abs and keep your arms and legs straight.
- Lift your arms and legs at the same time to meet over your hips.
- Reach your hands toward your feet, forming a V shape.
- Lower slowly with control until you are nearly flat again.
How to breathe
Breathe in as you lower, out as you push. Never hold your breath at the hardest point.
Common mistakes
Swinging into it. If momentum is doing the work, slow down until the muscle has to.
Letting your lower back peel off the floor. Press it down, and end the set the moment you cannot.
Rounding your back. Lengthen your spine first, then move — the shape you start in is the shape you keep.
Frequently asked questions
- Which muscles do V-Ups work?
- V-Ups mainly work your core. They also engage your hip flexors.
- What equipment do you need for V-Ups?
- None — V-Ups are a bodyweight move you can do anywhere.
- Are V-Ups good for beginners?
- V-Ups suit intermediate exercisers. Build a base first, then add reps.
- How many reps of V-Ups should you do?
- 8–12 reps per set.