Move of the Week: TRX oblique crunch

1. Position the TRX so that it is mid-calf length. Lay down on your front, keeping your feet in the foot cradles without touching. Hands should be shoulder-width apart, fully extended in the press-up Show more

Michael Lancaster, a TRX-trained personal trainer at Dubai's Platform 3 gym, demonstrates the second exercise in our eight-part weekly series of TRX workouts. Do this move alone, incorporate it into your own fitness routine or watch this space over the next six weeks to create a comprehensive, total-body, strength-building regime. Go to www.thenational.ae/bodyandsoul, where we collect the workouts and post video demonstrations.

1. Position the TRX so that it is mid-calf length. Lay down on your front, keeping your feet in the foot cradles without touching. Hands should be shoulder-width apart, fully extended in the press-up position.

2. Lifting the hips and knees off the floor, going into the plank position, move the knees towards either elbow, contracting the oblique muscles on that side.

3. Move the feet back around to the starting position and around to the other side without stopping.

Key point: the further in front of the suspension anchor point, the harder the exercise.

Progression/variation: do a press up after every two crunches.

Muscles targeted: chest, shoulders and core.

Sets and reps: One to three sets of 15 to 20 reps, with 30 seconds to one-minute rest between sets.

Platform 3 sells TRX Suspension Trainers for Dh950. They can also be purchased from major sporting shops throughout the UAE.