Place your hands behind your head, but remember not to pull on your neck; you can also cross them over your chest.
Engage your core by drawing in your belly towards your spine, then lift your upper body (head and shoulders) off the floor towards your knees, keeping your lower back pressed into the mat.
Hold the crunch position at the top for a moment, focusing on the contraction in your abdominal muscles.
Slowly lower your upper body back down to the starting position and repeat the exercise for the desired number of repetitions.