# Russian Twist

> A seated core exercise where you lean back and turn your torso side to side, training your obliques.

Page: https://fitnessie.app/exercises/russian-twist/
Type: Bodyweight · Core
Demo video: https://fitnessie.app/demos/russian-twist/c38b70443b6ce18e.mp4

## How to do it

1. Sit on the floor with your knees bent and your feet flat.
2. Lean back with a straight spine and clasp your hands in front of you, arms straight.
3. Rotate your torso to one side, leading with your shoulders.
4. Come back through the center and rotate to the other side.

## Key cues

- Straight spine, lean back
- Turn from the trunk, not the hips
- Arms straight, hands clasped
- Slow and controlled

## Common mistakes

- Swinging the arms instead of turning the torso
- Rounding the spine
- Rushing with jerky rotations

## Muscles worked

- Primary: Obliques
- Secondary: Abs

## Equipment

Exercise mat.

## Variations

- [Russian Twist (Kettlebell)](https://fitnessie.app/exercises/kettlebell-russian-twist/)

## References

- [NASM: Russian Twist](https://www.nasm.org/resource-center/exercise-library/russian-twist)
- [Healthline: Russian Twist](https://www.healthline.com/health/russian-twist)