Legs · Bodyweight
Seated Criss Cross Legs on a Chair
How to do the seated criss cross legs on a chair, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Flexion
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Sit on the edge of a chair and lean back slightly, holding the sides for support. Lift both legs straight out in front of you and cross one over the other, then switch the top leg in a scissoring criss-cross motion while keeping your core engaged.
- 1Feel your inner thighs and hips work as your legs cross over each other
- 2Keep your lower abs engaged to hold your legs up
- 3Move in a controlled scissor rhythm
Common mistakes
- Don't let your lower back round as you hold your legs out
- Avoid letting your feet drop toward the floor
- Don't rush the crossing into a loose swing
Muscles worked
The seated criss cross legs on a chair mainly works the hip flexors, lower abs, and adductors, with the upper abs, obliques, and quads assisting.
- Hip FlexorsPrimary
- Lower AbsPrimary
- AdductorsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- ObliquesSupport
- QuadsSupport
Kovo programs the seated criss cross legs on a chair for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More hips & adductors exercises
- How to do the butterfly stretch
- How to do the external rotation
- How to do the cable hip adduction
- How to do the internal rotation
- How to do the cobra pose
- How to do the core scrunch
Last reviewed June 2026.