This week, I decided to mix it up and tell you about one of my favorite fitness moves to build a strong core.

Scissor kicks aren’t complex in nature, but they sure do burn! They are one of the best fitness moves you can do for your core!

A strong core is so necessary for many reasons:

• Protects your lower back
• Helps with posture and ligament
• Protects your organs
• Key to almost every functional move of our body

So let’s dive in!

Here’s how to do Scissor Kicks:

1. Sit up tall on your mat.
2. Engage your core, (abdominal muscles).
3. Now gradually lean back. Keep your abs engaged and don’t let your back arch!
4. Place either your forearms or your hands on the mat behind you.
5. Now lift legs off mat only as high as you can- without your lower back arching. And remember – keep those abs engaged!
6. Now take one leg out to each side at the same time, slowly, and bring them back to center crossing at the ankles.
7. Repeat as many times as you can.
8. Do another set or 2 if you want!
9. You can also do scissors up and down- 1 leg up while 1 leg down slowly. Make sure you stay in control of your rhythm and movements! It is better to have slow and controlled movements than quick and dirty.
10. If this is too intense for you, you can do this pose and simply hold your legs in the air instead of moving them. For a little bit more of a challenge, you can do mini scissor kicks – only moving your feet in small movements instead of the larger ones shown in this video.
11. Now counter pose- lay back on your mat. Bring your knees up to your chest and hug them. Slowly rock side to side.

Give it a try and let me know how you like it! You will probably feel it the next day if you don’t feel it in your abdominals immediately. If you like this move, check out our virtual Conditioning & Toning Bootcamp that happens weekly!

Looking for some other quick workout moves? Let me know what you would like to see below!