The torso, also called the trunk of the body, is the portion beneath the neck and above the buttocks. It consists of the chest, the waist and the abdomen which houses many major internal organs. The chief muscles making up the torso are the pectoral muscles, the lateral muscles and the abdominal muscles. The muscle concentration is less compared to the thighs but exercising the torso is of immense importance. A nicely worked out torso enhances the general look of the body besides giving strength to the internal organs.

Exercises targeting the torso necessarily don't result in the loss of weight but help in forming the core, keeping you healthy and above all protecting your spine from injury. A personal trainer is a must to guide you with the various workouts involving the torso. Some of the key muscles of the body are occupied when targeting the torso and the help of a trainer must not be overlooked here.

The five most effective exercises for the torso, in no particular order, are:

EXERCISE BALL CRUNCH: Normal crunches performed on the ground also involve the legs but this one is highly effective as it covers just the abs. Ball crunches are performed with the legs held firmly on the ground and the back supported by the ball.

VERTICAL LEG CRUNCH: This is another very effectual exercise involving the torso, particularly the abdominal muscles. Crunches are performed with the legs held vertically straight and lying flat on the back. Variants with the legs cross bent or slightly bowed at the knees can also be done.

BICYCLE EXERCSIE: It is widely considered to be the best exercise for the abs and the waist. It requires you to lie down on your back with both the hands easily supporting the head. Now one knee is brought towards the chest making a 45 degree angle and the opposite shoulder is raised until the knees and elbow touch. The same is to be performed for the other pair of knees and elbow, much like the pedaling of a bicycle.

CHAIR LEG RAISE: This one is also considered very effective to work out the abs but is required to be performed after learning the tricks from your personal trainer. The hands should be rested on the pads, the back against the chair, the knees slightly bent and legs left loose. Contract the abdomen and then raise the legs towards the chest without arching or bending.

LONG ARM CRUNCH: This one requires no machine or a personal trainer. It's easy to understand and a tad difficult to do but very valuable as an exercise. Normal crunches are to be performed with arms held backwards and lying flat on the ground. This also helps strengthen the arms and works out the chest too besides the abdomen.

There are many other exercises involving the abs that can be done including some with machines too but if you master the above five, it will work well enough. The routine can be done in sets of 1-3 with at least 10 reps.