Abstract: An abdominal exercise apparatus has an elongated rigid member for positioning between a user's back and a support surface for executing a crunch. A grasping mechanism, such as a strap member, is attached to the rigid member to allow the user to lift the head end of the rigid member from the support surface by contracting the abdominal muscles. A pivot member is connected to the rigid member adjacent the user's lower back and positioned to engage the support surface. A weight retaining mechanism, such as a post, adapted to receive weighted plates, may be attached to the rigid member to enhance the workout to the abdominal and lower back muscles.

Abstract: An exercise wand and method are set forth which are particularly adapted to exercise the lower torso through twisting or bending. The wand includes a hollow tube having a closure at each end. The tube contains a plurality of movable spheres which extend 93% to 97% the length of the tube between the closures. Twisting or bending in a first direction shifts the spheres to abruptly engage and stack against a rigid closure at one end of the tube, the shifting spheres altering the center of mass for the wand and imparting momentum to the wand to urge full twisting or bending. Reverse twisting or bending shifts the spheres to abruptly engage a rigid closure at the other end of the tube, altering the center of mass and imparting momentum to the wand to urge full twisting or bending.