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Exercise guide

Seated Barbell Twist

How to do the Seated Barbell Twist with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

IsolationBarbellBeginnerPull
Primary muscles

Abs

Secondary

Equipment

Barbell

Step by step

How to do the Seated Barbell Twist

  1. 1

    Start out by sitting at the end of a flat bench with a barbell placed on top of your thighs. Your feet should be shoulder width apart from each other.

  2. 2

    Grip the bar with your palms facing down and make sure your hands are wider than shoulder width apart from each other. Begin to lift the barbell up over your head until your arms are fully extended.

  3. 3

    Now lower the barbell behind your head until it is resting along the base of your neck. This is the starting position.

  4. 4

    While keeping your feet and head stationary, move your waist from side to side so that your oblique muscles feel the contraction. Only move from side to side as far as your waist will allow you to go. Stretching or moving too far can cause an injury to occur. Tip: Use a slow and controlled motion.

  5. 5

    Remember to breathe out while twisting your body to the side and in when moving back to the starting position.

  6. 6

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Seated Barbell Twist set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your abs volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More abs exercises

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