This crabby mobility move will work your glutes, too.
By Brett Williams, Men's Health
You can lift every weight in the gym, but if you can't move your body, what's the point? Being able to flex your mobility is an important part of a healthy lifestyle—even if mastering the movements used to hone your abilities isn't always easy.
Trainer Charlee Atkins, C.S.C.S., understands the challenge that comes with pushing your body to move in new, different ways, but she remains a staunch advocate of fighting through the pain for your own good to perform exercises like the crab reach. "This is a double whammy because it's great warmup exercise and a great bodyweight exercise in general," she says. "Admittedly, when first doing the crab reach it's a little uncomfortable. We rarely open up our bodies in this position (arms extended back, opening up the chest and hip extension)—which is why it's so deliciously good."
The crab reach can help out anyone with tight hip flexors, particularly those of us who sit all day in an office. "This could benefit those of us who coming to the gym from a long day at the desk, [since it's a] chest and shoulder opener," Aktins says.
To perform the move, you just need some space on the floor to spread out.
You can lift every weight in the gym, but if you can't move your body, what's the point? Being able to flex your mobility is an important part of a healthy lifestyle—even if mastering the movements used to hone your abilities isn't always easy.
Trainer Charlee Atkins, C.S.C.S., understands the challenge that comes with pushing your body to move in new, different ways, but she remains a staunch advocate of fighting through the pain for your own good to perform exercises like the crab reach. "This is a double whammy because it's great warmup exercise and a great bodyweight exercise in general," she says. "Admittedly, when first doing the crab reach it's a little uncomfortable. We rarely open up our bodies in this position (arms extended back, opening up the chest and hip extension)—which is why it's so deliciously good."
The crab reach can help out anyone with tight hip flexors, particularly those of us who sit all day in an office. "This could benefit those of us who coming to the gym from a long day at the desk, [since it's a] chest and shoulder opener," Aktins says.
To perform the move, you just need some space on the floor to spread out.
- Start seated on the ground, resting on your arms in the bridge/crab walk position, with your palms flat on the ground and hands pointed back and slightly out.
- Squeeze your glutes to lift your hips up off ground.
- As your rise up, reach one hand over the opposite shoulder, twisting at the torso.
- Pause, squeezing your core and glutes to stay solid (avoid arching your back), then return to starting position.
- Repeat on the other side.
Add the crab reach to your warmup with 5 reps on each side for 10 reps total. Atkins recommends that you make sure to take your time and move slowly through the exercise, especially when you're just starting out, to get the most from the movement.
