Core · Bodyweight
Standing Russian Twist
How to do the standing russian twist, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Bodyweight
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Reps
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Stand with feet shoulder-width and knees soft, clasping your hands together in front of your chest with arms extended. Rotate your torso to one side, then the other, turning from the waist while keeping your hips facing forward.
- 1Your obliques driving each twist from the waist
- 2A tall spine with the hips staying square to the front
- 3Controlled rotation rather than loose swinging
Common mistakes
- Turning the hips instead of the torso
- Rounding or leaning the back as you twist
- Throwing the arms to create momentum
Muscles worked
The standing russian twist mainly works the obliques, with the upper abs, lower abs, and lats assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- LatsSupport
- Lower BackMinor
- Upper TrapsMinor
- QuadsMinor
- GlutesMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the standing russian twist 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 abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the ankle tap plank
- How to do the ankle taps
- How to do the resistance band dead bugs
- How to do the resistance band pallof press
- How to do the rollout
Last reviewed June 2026.