Positioned along the side of your abdomen, the obliques support your lower back and play a pivotal role in your posture. They form an important part of your mid-body core muscles, but can often be neglected in exercise routines.
This quick workout from Sweat app trainer Britany Williams specifically targets the obliques through a series of dumbbell-based moves.
There are seven possible exercises to try, but you don't need to tackle all of them. Instead, Williams asks you to pick your favorite four or five.
Once you've chosen, perform 12 repetitions of each move, one after the other, then repeat this circuit for four total rounds.
How to do Britany Williams' five-move core and obliques workout
What are the obliques?
The internal and external obliques are the muscles that run down the side of your abdomen, forming part of your abdominals (along with the spine-supporting transverse abdominis and six-pack shaping rectus abdominis).
All of these muscles will be active during Williams' workout, but the routine pays special attention to the obliques by incorporating rotational movements like the Russian twist and the kneeling wood chop.
The obliques are responsible for twisting your torso and flexing it sideways, as well as resisting lateral movement, so they will also kick into gear during moves like mountain climbers.
These mid-body muscles support your spine and lower back, so strengthening them can make your body more resilient against back pain. They also influence your posture, so having a strong set can make it easier to stand upright. Neglect them at your peril, if you want to build a resilient, functional body.
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