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In this video, Mahalo's fitness expert Torri Shack shows you how to work out your abs with crunches.

Getting Started
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You can do this exercise either at the gym or at home. If you prefer to do them at home, you may be more comfortable performing this exercise on a yoga mat, towel or any other soft surface you can put between you and the floor.

Muscles Worked
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This exercise works your rectus abdominis muscles, which are the major muscle group in your core and the muscles responsible for the six-pack look.c 

1. Lie flat on the floor with your hands behind your head to support your neck, but don't interlock your fingers.
2. Bend your knees so that your feet are flat on the floor and a few inches away from your butt.
3. Lift your head and shoulder blade off the ground to engage your abs, making sure that your neck doesn't collapse towards your chest. Sometimes it helps to imagine keeping an apple between your neck and chest.
4. Lower back down so that your head hovers above the ground to complete one rep.
5. Perform three to four sets of 15-20 reps.

Variations
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Side crunches: From the standard starting position, drop your legs to the ground to your left side. Crunch forward, keeping your good form. This variation focuses on your obliques.
Stability-ball crunches: With a stability ball either at the gym or home, place the center of your back on the ball, letting your neck, hips and legs hang off. Bend your knees so your thighs are parallel to the floor and support your neck with your hands on the back of your head. Perform your crunches while trying to maintain your balance.

Incline crunches: Lie with your head at the bottom of an inclined weight bench. Keep the same form and process.

Knees-bent crunches: From the standard position, bend your legs at the hips so that your thighs are perpendicular to the floor and your shins are parallel to the floor. Crunch up as normal.

Straight-up crunches: Holding a water bottle or weight with both hands straight out above your chest, crunch straight up. Try to keep the water bottle or weight in the same plane throughout the exercise.

Legs-straight crunches: From the standard starting position, lift your legs straight up in the air so that they are perpendicular to the ground. Crunch straight up. You can use a water bottle/weight like the variation above.

Read more by visiting our page at:
http://www.mahalo.com/crunches/