8 Twisting Exercises For A Slimmer Waist

Twisting exercises help burn calories and slim your waistline. Try these best twisting exercises for weight loss.

Exercises like crunches, sit-ups, and planks are great for your abs, thighs, and legs. But these exercises may not reduce fat on the sides of your abdomen. Try twisting exercises like the Russian twist, plank twist, and abdominal twist exercises. These moves can help you get closer to your desire for a slimmer waist. They can also strengthen your core and burn calories. Start incorporating these twisting exercises to lose weight and tone your abs.

The best twisting exercises

Perform the following twisting exercises to help you lose fat and get a smaller waistline, advises personal trainer Yash Agarwal.

A woman doing the Russian Twist exercise — Twists improve flexibility in addition to weight loss. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

1. Russian touch

To do the Russian twist, sit on a mat and gently bend your knees. Your feet should be flat.
Lean slightly.
Hold a weight or clasp your hands together.
Twist your torso, bringing your weight to your side, then twist to the left.
Repeat for a few reps.

2. Oblique V-ups

Lie on your right side with your legs together and slightly forward.
Place your right arm on the mat and your left hand behind your head.
Lift yourself into a V, lifting yourself up on your hips and butt.
Keep your legs straight.

3. Lateral crunches

Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your palms extended above your head.
Contract your abs and bend at least to one side, bringing your elbow toward your hip.
Return to center and repeat on the other side.

4. Bicycle Crunch

Lie on your back with your arms behind your head, legs raised and knees bent.
Bring your right elbow toward your left knee as you straighten your leg.
To perform bicycle crunches, move your legs as if you were pedaling.

5. Twisted Mountain Climbers

Start in the plank position, with your arms under your shoulders.
Bring your right knee toward your left elbow, then quickly switch legs, bringing your left knee toward your right elbow.
Alternate movements at a fast pace.

6. Seated Drop-Knee Twists

Sit on the mat or floor, bend your knees and lift your feet off the floor.
Bend back to engage your core.
Rotate your torso to the right, resting both knees on the floor.
Return to center and repeat on the opposite side.

7. Wood chopping exercise

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a weight or medicine ball in both arms. Start with the weight overhead.
Keeping your fingers straight, rotate your torso and shift the load down, closer to the other hip.
Repeat on each side.

8. Twist Plank

Start from the plank position.
Rotate your torso to the right, bringing your right hip closer to the ground but not touching it.
Return to center and repeat on left side.

A woman doing plank — Try the twisting plank. Image courtesy: Adobe Stock

Are there any side effects to twisting exercises?

Twisting exercises can be safely incorporated into your fitness routine. However, keep the following in mind:

Performing twisting exercises with poor form can stress the muscle groups in the lower back. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on proper alignment and interacting with the middle muscle tissues to guide the spine during those movements.
People with pre-existing medical conditions, including herniated discs, should not perform twisting exercises or modify them to suit their needs.

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, always consult your doctor or healthcare professional.

8 Twisting Exercises For A Slimmer Waist