Seated Barbell Twist

What it is

This exercise is a seated isolation movement that uses a barbell to engage your core. It primarily targets your abdominal muscles through controlled torso rotation. You will focus on isolating the twisting motion from your waist.

Technique tips

• Set up with the barbell resting on the back of your neck.
• Keep your feet and head stationary throughout the movement.
• Twist from your waist, feeling the oblique muscles contract.
• Move only as far as your flexibility comfortably allows.
• Maintain a slow and controlled motion for optimal muscle engagement.
• Exhale as you twist to the side; inhale when returning to center.

How to track your progress

Log the weight and reps of each set. Straddly turns every set into an estimated one-rep max, so a heavier single and a strong set of eight both count as progress, and it flags a personal record the moment you beat your best.