By Aaron Boike, ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Health Coach

Crunches have the reputation of being the route to get a six pack, but are they really that great? If you’re looking to train your entire core effectively, you’re missing a lot by limiting yourself to basic crunches. Crunches do work an important core action: Flexion. Flexion is what happens when the core musculature works to bring the ribcage in towards the hips, or visa versa. What crunches miss out on is the other actions of the core: rotation, stabilization, lateral flexion, and extension. Want to get a better core workout? Try these exercises to bring your core routine to the next level.

Cross Body and Spiderman Knee Drives 

Movements Worked: rotation, stabilization, lateral flexion

Best for Toning Up: The Obliques (sides of the core)

Try This: 3 sets of 10-15 per side

Stability Ball Knee Tucks

Movements Worked: Flexion, stabilization

Best for Toning Up: The lower abdominals and inner core

Try This: 3 sets of 15 repetitions

Renegade Rows

Movements Worked: Rotation, Flexion, Stabilization

Best for Toning Up: Lower Abs and Obliques

Try This: 3 sets of 10 repetitions

Decline Medicine Ball Sit-up 

Movements Worked: Stabilization, Flexion

Best for Toning Up: Upper Abs

Try This: 3 Sets of 10-15 repetitions

Cable Torso Rotation

Movements Worked: Rotation

Best for Toning Up: Obliques

Try This: 3 sets of 10-15 per side