Lie faceup with legs straight. Place both hands palms down on floor on either side of hips for support. Drawing belly button toward spine, use your abdominals to lift your left leg 45 degrees off the floor and right leg 6 inches from floor. Draw both legs in toward midline, crossing left leg over right. Draw legs apart and switch them, crossing right leg over left. Continue to switch and cross legs in a scissor motion.
Ladder Climb
Lie faceup with legs straight. Place both hands palms down on floor on either side of hips for support. Drawing belly button toward spine, use your abdominals to lift your left leg 45 degrees off the floor and right leg 6 inches from floor. Draw both legs in toward midline, crossing left leg over right. Draw legs apart and switch them, crossing right leg over left. Continue to switch and cross legs in a scissor motion, raising both legs a few inches with each rep until legs are almost perpendicular to the floor. Reverse the movement by lowering the legs to the starting position with each rep, then repeat.
Hollow-Body Scissor Kick
Lie faceup with legs straight. Place hands behind head and lift head and shoulders off floor, keeping neck neutral. Drawing belly button toward spine, use your abdominals to lift your left leg 45 degrees off the floor and right leg 6 inches from floor. Draw both legs in toward midline, crossing left leg over right. Draw legs apart and switch them, crossing right leg over left. Continue to switch and cross legs in a scissor motion.
Stop-and-Go Scissor Kick
Lie faceup with legs straight. Place hands behind head and lift head and shoulders off floor, keeping neck neutral. Drawing belly button toward spine, use your abdominals to lift your left leg 45 degrees off the floor and right leg 6 inches from floor. Draw both legs in toward midline, crossing left leg over right. Draw legs apart and switch them, crossing right leg over left. Continue to switch and cross legs in a scissor motion for 5 reps, then draw legs together and hold them 6 inches from floor for 5 seconds. Continue to alternate between scissor kicks and 5-second holds.
Flutter Kick
Lie faceup with legs straight. Place both hands palms down on floor on either side of hips for support. Drawing belly button toward spine, use your abdominals to lift legs about 45 degrees off the floor and flutter them—lift left leg, then right, then left, and repeat.