Build a Strong Six-Pack With Hanging Leg Raises

The hanging leg raise is a great core exercise that works your whole abdominal area. The emphasis, however, goes on the hip flexors and the lower ab area. The stabilizing muscles involved in the exercise are the rectus abdominis and the obliques. This exercise also improves the stability in the lower back.

How to do the hanging leg raise

Grab on to a pull up bar with an overhand grip.
Raise your legs by flexing the hips and knees until the knees are well above hips or close to your chest. Return until hips and knees are extended downward. Repeat.

Notes

1. Don’t use momentum to bring your legs up. All of the movement is created by your legs.

2. Don’t shrug your shoulders as you hang from the bar. Keep them tucked down and back.

3. Don’t allow your body to swing back and forth.

Advanced hanging leg raises

Optionally, you can make the hanging leg raise harder to execute by keeping the knees extended throughout the movement.