Exercise: leg lifts (six inches)

Self-tutoring about health and fitness: the tutor makes an observation.

I was in a boxing club years ago where we did an exercise called “six inches.” To begin, you’d lie full length on your back on the floor, possibly with your hands under your butt (which really helps). The coach would call “six inches,” at which time you would raise your legs, still full length, so your heels were six inches off the ground. You’d hold that position until the coach said the next part, such as “criss-cross,” “foot-wide circle,” or “swimmer’s kick.” Your legs would always remain straight, so holding them up and out like that grew very difficult.

Unless you were in very good shape, and had also done “six inches” a lot, it was painful. I used to practice it at home to make it less so.

One time a friend of mine saw me practicing it and said he’d done a similar thing in karate. “When I do that even two minutes a day, my lower back problems cease to exist,” he commented. I’d never had back problems, so couldn’t testify it helped me in the same way.

Recently I’ve been getting a very sore lower back after my spin workouts or runs. Yesterday I recalled my friend’s comment, so did “six inches” for about three minutes after my spin workout. I did various parts of it – first just six inches above the ground, then swimmer’s kick, foot-wide circle each way, etc. I’ve noticed that, today, my lower back feels great. I guess my friend was right:)