Looking for a more effective way to get your desired strength and mobility? These 3 tips will help you to improve your workout routine using Hanging Leg Lifts. You will not only increase your core strength and develop healthier shoulders, but you’ll also become more flexible! Everyone recognizes hanging leg lifts as one of the best ab workouts so let’s make sure you’re getting the most out of them, every time. Incorporating hanging leg lifts into your exercise routine will be sure to improve your core strength, shoulder health, hip mobility, and hamstring flexibility. The added benefit? You’ll become less prone to injury and develop those sought-after ripped abs!

Build Basic Core Strength

Developing better core strength and improving your hip compression using the basic exercises found in the GymnasticBodies Online Courses is going to be your first step in perfecting the hanging leg lift. V-ups, along with the other basic core strengthening progressions found in the GB Courses are your golden ticket to success. Coach Christopher Sommer of GymnasticBodies had his athletes perform V-ups when they were getting rowdy or arrived late to practice.

Looming punishment for some, gleaming six-pack abs for all.

Whether you are new to core strength exercises, or a seasoned veteran, perfecting basic core exercises will produce dramatic results in the pursuit of strong hanging leg lifts. Everyone can benefit from basic exercises like the V-up. Work towards building proper form which will translate to increased range of motion, more strength, and ultimately better hanging leg lifts.

Start learning amazingly effective core exercises like hanging leg lifts with the GB Online Courses!

Develop Greater Hamstring Flexibility

Properly performed, a hanging leg lift is done with completely straight legs and arms. Without using momentum, the legs are then lifted all the way up in front of the torso. It requires a lot of hamstring flexibility to lift your toes all the way up to the bar, which is why the Foundation Series focuses equally on improving your mobility and strength. The progressions in the program will help you to become more flexible so you too can get your toes to the top of the bar.

Using Foundational weighted mobility exercises and lower body stretches, your hamstrings will quickly loosen up, increasing your range of motion, and allowing you to perform amazing exercises like the hanging leg lift.

Improve Your Shoulder Mobility

It’s common for beginners with inflexible shoulders to struggle with the hanging portion of the movement. Since your shoulders are prevented from moving backward when hanging on a stall bar, it’s important for your overhead shoulder mobility to be well developed. If it isn’t then you will have trouble lifting your legs up.

If your overhead shoulder flexion needs a little attention, don’t worry! GymnasticBodies has the Stretch Series to help you build more flexible shoulders so you can improve your hanging leg lifts. Once your shoulders open up, you will be able to hang effortlessly and focus on building a strong core. The combined focus on both mobility and strength found in the GymnasticBodies Foundation Series will also properly prepare your shoulders for the demands of hanging leg lifts.

When performing a hanging leg lift, it’s important not to compensate by bending your elbows or pulling with your upper body. The focus of the exercise is building core and hip strength by letting both of these areas do the hard work. That’s not to say you don’t need a lot of mobility and strength in your shoulders for this exercise, but the focus is on the posterior chain. Be sure to keep your upper body relaxed (keep your arms extended and straight) during a hanging leg lift to avoid unwanted compensation or shoulder injury.  

With the GB Foundation Series, you'll master basic core strength and develop the abs to prove it!

These 3 tips for improving your GymnasticBodies hanging leg lifts will help promote core strength, hamstring flexibility, grip strength, shoulder health, and more, all while allowing you to move better and craft the amazing body you deserve.