Build the compression, hip flexor, and core strength needed to progress toward a stronger, more controlled L-sit.
This 30–35 minute workout develops the key components of an L-sit through mobility, active compression, support strength, and skill-specific progressions. You’ll build the ability to lift and extend your legs while maintaining strong upper-body support and core control.
Use this workout 1–2 times per week as a dedicated L-sit session or alongside your existing calisthenics or core training. It can also be paired with an upper-body session, but complete the skill-specific work before heavy core training so you can practice with better control.
Think about actively pushing down while lifting up. Strong support through your arms and shoulders creates the space you need to lift your hips and legs. If you can’t straighten your legs yet, maintain a strong supported position and gradually progress your extension.
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A breakdown of all exercises in this workout.
rest
Not needed
Cool Down, Mobility / Flexibility, Warm-Up / Activation
Not needed
Cool Down, Mobility / Flexibility, Warm-Up / Activation
1. Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart and hinge forward into a relaxed forward fold.
2. Cross your arms and allow your head and neck to relax.
3. Shift your weight gently from side to side while allowing your upper body to sway.
4. Keep your hips elevated and maintain a relaxed spine throughout the movement.
5. Use the sway to release tension through your back, hips, and hamstrings.
6. Continue with slow, controlled movements while breathing steadily.
1. Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart and hinge forward into a relaxed forward fold.
2. Cross your arms and allow your head and neck to relax.
3. Shift your weight gently from side to side while allowing your upper body to sway.
4. Keep your hips elevated and maintain a relaxed spine throughout the movement.
5. Use the sway to release tension through your back, hips, and hamstrings.
6. Continue with slow, controlled movements while breathing steadily.
rest
Yoga Blocks
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Stability
Yoga Blocks
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Stability
1. Stand with one foot elevated on a yoga block while the opposite leg stays planted on the floor.
2. Cross or hook the elevated leg behind you while keeping your hips lifted.
3. Slightly bend the standing knee and hinge forward from your hips.
4. Reach your hands toward the floor or forward to deepen the stretch.
5. Slowly straighten and bend the standing leg while maintaining control through your hips.
6. Keep your spine long and avoid collapsing into the stretch.
7. Complete repetitions before switching sides.
1. Stand with one foot elevated on a yoga block while the opposite leg stays planted on the floor.
2. Cross or hook the elevated leg behind you while keeping your hips lifted.
3. Slightly bend the standing knee and hinge forward from your hips.
4. Reach your hands toward the floor or forward to deepen the stretch.
5. Slowly straighten and bend the standing leg while maintaining control through your hips.
6. Keep your spine long and avoid collapsing into the stretch.
7. Complete repetitions before switching sides.
rest
Yoga Blocks
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Warm-Up / Activation
Yoga Blocks
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Warm-Up / Activation
1. Stand with your feet together or hip-width apart and hinge forward into a forward fold.
2. Place your hands on a yoga block placed in front of you.
3. Keep your hips lifted and your spine long.
4. Slowly bend both knees while maintaining the forward fold position.
5. Extend both legs straight again while keeping tension through your hamstrings.
6. Continue alternating between bent and straight legs with control.
7. Avoid rounding excessively through your lower back.
1. Stand with your feet together or hip-width apart and hinge forward into a forward fold.
2. Place your hands on a yoga block placed in front of you.
3. Keep your hips lifted and your spine long.
4. Slowly bend both knees while maintaining the forward fold position.
5. Extend both legs straight again while keeping tension through your hamstrings.
6. Continue alternating between bent and straight legs with control.
7. Avoid rounding excessively through your lower back.
rest
Not needed
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Warm-Up / Activation
Not needed
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Warm-Up / Activation
1. Sit in a wide straddle position with both knees bent and your hands resting on your hips.
2. Sit tall and maintain an engaged posture.
3. Tilt your pelvis forward to create length through your spine and hips.
4. Reverse into a posterior pelvic tilt by tucking your pelvis underneath you.
5. Continue moving between both positions while maintaining control.
6. Keep your knees bent and relaxed while focusing on pelvic movement.
1. Sit in a wide straddle position with both knees bent and your hands resting on your hips.
2. Sit tall and maintain an engaged posture.
3. Tilt your pelvis forward to create length through your spine and hips.
4. Reverse into a posterior pelvic tilt by tucking your pelvis underneath you.
5. Continue moving between both positions while maintaining control.
6. Keep your knees bent and relaxed while focusing on pelvic movement.
rest
Not needed
Movement Control, Skill, Strength
Not needed
Movement Control, Skill, Strength
1. Sit on the floor with your hands placed behind you for support and your legs extended.
2. Lean back slightly while keeping your chest lifted and core engaged.
3. Lift your legs and torso toward each other by contracting your core.
4. Bring your knees and chest together while maintaining control.
5. Slowly extend your body back out without fully relaxing your core.
6. Repeat the movement while using your hands only for support, not momentum.
1. Sit on the floor with your hands placed behind you for support and your legs extended.
2. Lean back slightly while keeping your chest lifted and core engaged.
3. Lift your legs and torso toward each other by contracting your core.
4. Bring your knees and chest together while maintaining control.
5. Slowly extend your body back out without fully relaxing your core.
6. Repeat the movement while using your hands only for support, not momentum.
rest
Pull Up Band
Movement Control, Skill, Strength
Pull Up Band
Movement Control, Skill, Strength
1. Sit on the floor with both legs extended straight in front of you and place your hands slightly behind your hips for support.
2. Loop a resistance band around one foot and around an anchor in front of you.
3. Sit tall with your chest lifted and brace your core.
4. Pull your knee toward your chest by lifting your foot off the floor against the resistance of the band.
5. Pause briefly while keeping your spine tall and shoulders relaxed.
6. Slowly extend your leg back to the starting position with control, maintaining tension in the band throughout.
7. Avoid leaning excessively backward or using momentum to complete the movement.
8. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
1. Sit on the floor with both legs extended straight in front of you and place your hands slightly behind your hips for support.
2. Loop a resistance band around one foot and around an anchor in front of you.
3. Sit tall with your chest lifted and brace your core.
4. Pull your knee toward your chest by lifting your foot off the floor against the resistance of the band.
5. Pause briefly while keeping your spine tall and shoulders relaxed.
6. Slowly extend your leg back to the starting position with control, maintaining tension in the band throughout.
7. Avoid leaning excessively backward or using momentum to complete the movement.
8. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
rest
Yoga Blocks
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Strength, Warm-Up / Activation
Yoga Blocks
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Strength, Warm-Up / Activation
1. Sit on the floor with one leg extended straight and a yoga block placed beside or over the working leg.
2. Place your hands on the floor for support and sit tall.
3. Keep your working leg straight with toes pointed.
4. Lift the leg over the yoga block using your core and hip flexors.
5. Lower the leg back down with control without allowing it to rest completely if possible.
6. Maintain a tall posture and avoid leaning excessively backward.
7. Repeat for the desired repetitions before switching sides.
1. Sit on the floor with one leg extended straight and a yoga block placed beside or over the working leg.
2. Place your hands on the floor for support and sit tall.
3. Keep your working leg straight with toes pointed.
4. Lift the leg over the yoga block using your core and hip flexors.
5. Lower the leg back down with control without allowing it to rest completely if possible.
6. Maintain a tall posture and avoid leaning excessively backward.
7. Repeat for the desired repetitions before switching sides.
rest
Not needed
Movement Control, Skill, Strength
Not needed
Movement Control, Skill, Strength
1. Sit on the floor with your legs extended straight in front of you and place your hands beside your hips for support.
2. Lean your torso slightly back while keeping your chest lifted and spine long.
3. Press into your hands and engage your core to create a stable base.
4. Lift one straight leg off the floor while keeping the opposite leg extended and grounded.
5. Lower the leg with control and alternate sides.
6. Keep your knees straight and toes pointed while maintaining tension through your legs.
7. Avoid rounding your back or using momentum to lift the legs.
1. Sit on the floor with your legs extended straight in front of you and place your hands beside your hips for support.
2. Lean your torso slightly back while keeping your chest lifted and spine long.
3. Press into your hands and engage your core to create a stable base.
4. Lift one straight leg off the floor while keeping the opposite leg extended and grounded.
5. Lower the leg with control and alternate sides.
6. Keep your knees straight and toes pointed while maintaining tension through your legs.
7. Avoid rounding your back or using momentum to lift the legs.
rest
Parallette Bars
Skill, Stability, Strength
Parallette Bars
Skill, Stability, Strength
1. Sit between parallettes with your hands gripping the bars beside your hips and your feet resting on the floor.
2. Press firmly through your hands and straighten your arms to lift your hips off the ground.
3. Keep your shoulders pushed down away from your ears and maintain an active upper body.
4. Hold the supported position with your legs straight and feet lightly touching the floor.
5. Slowly bend your elbows to lower yourself back down with control until seated.
6. Press back up through straight arms to repeat the movement.
7. Maintain a tall chest and avoid collapsing through your shoulders.
1. Sit between parallettes with your hands gripping the bars beside your hips and your feet resting on the floor.
2. Press firmly through your hands and straighten your arms to lift your hips off the ground.
3. Keep your shoulders pushed down away from your ears and maintain an active upper body.
4. Hold the supported position with your legs straight and feet lightly touching the floor.
5. Slowly bend your elbows to lower yourself back down with control until seated.
6. Press back up through straight arms to repeat the movement.
7. Maintain a tall chest and avoid collapsing through your shoulders.
rest
Parallette Bars
Skill, Stability, Strength
Parallette Bars
Skill, Stability, Strength
1. Sit between parallettes with your hands gripping the bars and one foot lightly touching the floor for support.
2. Press through your hands to lift your hips off the ground with straight arms.
3. Keep your shoulders active and your chest lifted.
4. Lift one leg straight out in front of you while keeping the other foot lightly supported on the floor.
5. Hold the position while maintaining straight arms and strong core engagement.
6. Slowly lower back down with control before switching legs.
7. Avoid shrugging your shoulders or leaning excessively backward.
1. Sit between parallettes with your hands gripping the bars and one foot lightly touching the floor for support.
2. Press through your hands to lift your hips off the ground with straight arms.
3. Keep your shoulders active and your chest lifted.
4. Lift one leg straight out in front of you while keeping the other foot lightly supported on the floor.
5. Hold the position while maintaining straight arms and strong core engagement.
6. Slowly lower back down with control before switching legs.
7. Avoid shrugging your shoulders or leaning excessively backward.
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