| This is a great core strengthening exercise and will carve out your abs really well. Perform it slow and controlled, especially on the way down. If you want to increase the level of difficulty, you can strap on ankle weights and do this exercise. One matter worth a note is that this type of exercise may not be the best one for those people who have (or have had) back problems or injuries. This exercise requires some pre-existing back conditioning and perhaps should not be performed by those who have a history of back problems. Finally, this exercise may also feel like it's hard on your arms and shoulders and that can be true depending on how heavy you are in the first place. Those who are above 200lbs may find it more difficult to hold on to the handlebar than those who are 140lbs. The angle of the bench also influences the level of difficulty and thus the amount of pressure or weight that is being transferred to your arms. In other words, the steeper the angle of the bench the more weight you are transferring to your arms and shoulders. This means the closer you are to a vertical position, the more you will be hanging by your arms. | 
