Open-and-Close Pike
Open-and-close pikes add a little fun to the traditional leg raise. In addition to challenging your stabilizing core muscles, opening and closing the legs at the top of the movement helps tone the inner and outer thighs, hips, and glutes.
Lie on your back with your hands under your butt, palms facing down. Keep your legs as straight as possible and squeeze them together.
Slowly raise your legs until they are perpendicular to the floor.
Open your legs as wide as possible.
Close the legs with a controlled movement, keeping them straight and perpendicular to the floor.
Slowly lower the feet until they are just above the floor.
Keeping your feet just above the floor, open your legs as wide as possible with a slow, controlled movement.
Close the legs and begin the sequence again by raising your legs until they are perpendicular to the floor. Do not allow your feet to touch the floor.
Caution
If your back arches as the legs lower, you are taking your legs too low. Lift your legs to keep the work in the abs and hip flexors.