How to do the L-Sit
- Grip parallel bars with straight arms and shoulders pulled down.
- Lift your body and raise your legs until they're parallel to the floor.
- Keep your legs straight and squeezed together, avoiding bent knees.
- Hold the position as long as you can, breathing calmly.
- Gently lower your legs back down to the floor.
Full technique — 7 steps
- Place your hands on parallel bars or sturdy handles with arms straight and shoulders pressed down.
- Push tall through the bars and lift your body until your feet clear the floor.
- Raise both legs in front of you until they are roughly parallel to the ground.
- Straighten your knees fully, point or pull back your toes, and keep your thighs squeezed together.
- Hold with hips flexed, torso upright, and lower back slightly rounded from active compression.
- Keep breathing in short controlled breaths while maintaining straight elbows and leg height.
- Lower your legs and feet back to the floor once you can no longer hold position.
Common mistakes
- Bending the knees to stay up
- Letting legs drift below horizontal
- Collapsing through straight-arm support
- Leaning back instead of compressing
- Holding breath during the hold
Form cues
- Press shoulders down hard
- Keep knees straight
- Lift thighs, not chest
- Stay tall on hands
- Use short breaths
