Muscle group
Obliques: exercises for a stronger core
Your obliques help you twist, lean to the side and stay solid in almost every movement at the gym. With exercises like the cable woodchopper, 45° side bend and side plank, you can train them through rotation and stability. You’ll find these in several of the 76 gyms tracked by GoSet in Québec.
0 machine · 3 exercises
Coach tips
- Keep your core tight: think about bracing around your waist instead of just moving your neck or shoulders.
- Move with control, especially in rotation or side bending: about 2–3 seconds on the way down, 1–2 seconds to come back up.
- Breathe with the effort: exhale on the hard part of the rep, inhale as you return to the start position.
- Use a range of motion you can control; only increase it if your core stays stable without jerking or twisting out of line.
Exercises
These also work this muscle
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Common questions
What do the obliques do in my workouts?
The obliques help you rotate your torso, bend to the side and stabilize your body in many exercises. They work, for example, in rotation moves like the cable woodchopper, in side bending on the 45° side bend, and when you hold your body straight in a side plank.
Can I train my obliques without a machine?
Yes. In GoSet’s oblique exercises, you have options like the side plank which only uses your bodyweight, and the cable woodchopper that just needs a cable station, which you’ll see in several of the 76 gyms tracked by GoSet in Québec.
How many sets should I do for obliques?
In practice, you often see around 3 sets per exercise for the obliques, with reps adjusted to the movement, like counted reps for the cable woodchopper and 45° side bend, or timed holds for the side plank.
Should I feel a burn in my obliques?
Your obliques can feel a burn during or after exercises, especially with moves like the cable woodchopper, 45° side bend and side plank. If you feel sharp or unusual pain, stop the exercise and talk to a health or training professional.