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Russian Twist

A seated rotation exercise for the obliques; hold a weight to make it harder.

v2026.10.13

Drag to rotate

3 sets of 6–15 reps, 1–2 min rest, guided

Muscles worked

Front
Back
Target
Also works
Equipment
Bodyweight
Level
Beginner
Tempo
Lift 1 s · Lower 1 s

How to do the russian twist

  1. 1Sit with knees bent and lean back until your abs engage.
  2. 2Hold your hands together in front of your chest.
  3. 3Rotate your torso to one side, then the other.
  4. 4Keep your hips still and the movement controlled.

When to pick it: Pick it as an oblique finisher; keep the feet down if the lower back complains.

Form cues

  • Rotate from the ribs
  • Chest tall
  • Slow and controlled

Common mistakes

  • Just moving the arms
  • Rounding the back
  • Going too fast

Stop if something hurts, and check with a doctor before starting if you have a health condition, are pregnant or are recovering from an injury. Terms

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Strength3–53–62–3 min
Muscle size3–46–151–2 min
Endurance2–315–2530–60 s

Finish each set with one or two good reps left in the tank. When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add weight next time. Get a full 4–12 week program →

Equipment taken? Swap it for

These train the same muscles with different equipment.

More obliques exercises

All obliques exercises →