STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

wicked · Coach

Sit-ups kill my neck!

luckyclover · Dooney & Bourke

I would like to know too. If I do a lot of them, my back ends up hurting. I'm pretty sure this means I'm not doing them correctly.

Kelly · Hermes

I don't know, this sounds obvious and kind of silly, but are you pulling yourself up with your neck or your abs? I hate sit-ups because I have to pay such close attention... I always pull up with my neck, so I have to really be incontrol of myself and keep my back and neck as stiff as possible. I think if you're doing it right, that your abs should be the only thing moving at all

jen · Kate Spade

Yes, you're abs actually should be leading the movement. You're neck and head are just along for the ride. Look up to the ceiling when you do these. Make an effort to move your abs up first, then you head and neck. Remember to keep fingers slightly rested by your ears and elbows back, never forward by your temples. This should help, but let us know!

calichic · Dooney & Bourke

jen wrote:

Yes, you're abs actually should be leading the movement. You're neck and head are just along for the ride. Look up to the ceiling when you do these. Make an effort to move your abs up first, then you head and neck. Remember to keep fingers slightly rested by your ears and elbows back, never forward by your temples. This should help, but let us know!

I think that it also helps if you keep your elbows out so as not to pull your neck up.

daiz519 · Dooney & Bourke

One of my kickboxing instructors told me to keep my chin pointing up towards the ceiling. I think this helped prevent me from curling forward with my neck. Plus concentrating on using my abs muscles to crunch like everyone else said.

poptart · Coach

I'll add my suggestion: when first learning form, I found it helpful to think of a board running horizontally across my shoulders and upper back, keeping them from moving. Your chest, neck, shoulders, and head shouldn't move independently from the force of your abs. Closing your eyes might help, because if you just focus on a single point on the ceiling, you'll end up straining your neck in a different way as your abs pull you up. Make sense?

wicked · Coach

Thank you for your tips everyone, they've helped.

jen · Kate Spade

Wait-are you doing full sit ups or crunches?

wicked · Coach

Probably just crunches. Seriously, i'm so weak in that area that I can't lift much more than my shoulder blades off the ground.

jen · Kate Spade

No, that's good! Keep it up!

blubirde · Chanel

An old trainer told me to imagine an apple between my chin and my chest (essentially point your chin towards the ceiling). It helps me to visualize the space between my chin and my chest.

Also, and I don't know if this is good form but it keeps my neck from being sore, I lock my hands behind my head so that I can relax my neck/face and feel if I'm getting too tense anywhere except my abs. It's just a resting spot for hands though, no yanking on head.