Core · Bodyweight
Twist Turn Lift
How to do the twist turn lift, 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 your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands together in front of your hips. Twist your trunk to one side as you turn and lift your hands diagonally up across your body to about shoulder height, then return under control. The move trains rotation and trunk control. Work both sides evenly.
- 1Drive the turn from your obliques and trunk, not your arms
- 2Pivot the back foot so your hips rotate with the lift
- 3Keep your core braced as you lift up and across
Common mistakes
- Do not let your lower back overarch at the top
- Do not rely on your shoulders to swing the hands up
- Do not rush; control the turn in both directions
Muscles worked
The twist turn lift mainly works the obliques, with the upper abs, lower abs, and lower back assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- Lower BackSupport
- Upper TrapsMinor
- QuadsMinor
- GlutesMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the twist turn lift 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.