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13 Exercises That Start With A (These Will Get You Toned!)

By Author Robb

Posted on Last updated:

As a gym addict, I know how important it is to mix up my workouts to avoid boredom and plateaus.

That’s why I’ve compiled a list of 13 exercises that start with A, each with its own set of unique benefits and challenges.

From the Arch Hold to the Alternating Bicep Curl, we’ll cover a range of exercises that target different muscle groups and offer various levels of difficulty.

So, let’s dive in and explore these exercises that start with A!

Contents Show

Abdominal Crunches

Abdominal crunches are a classic exercise that have been used for decades to tone and define the abs.

Whether you’re looking to get that coveted six-pack or just want to strengthen your core, these can be a great addition to your workout routine.

How To Do

  1. Lie down on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
  2. Place your hands behind your head or across your chest.
  3. Slowly lift your shoulders off the ground, using your abdominal muscles to crunch up towards your knees.
  4. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement and then slowly lower yourself back down to the starting position.
  5. Repeat for desired number of repetitions.

Muscles Worked

  • Rectus Abdominis
  • Obliques

Air Bike

The air bike is an excellent cardio exercise that targets multiple muscle groups simultaneously.

It’s a low-impact exercise, which makes it a great option for people who have joint issues or are recovering from an injury.

How To Do

  1. Begin in a seated position on the air bike with your hands gripping the handlebars.
  2. Place your feet on the pedals and start pedaling while keeping your core engaged.
  3. Increase the resistance to add intensity to the workout.
  4. Continue pedaling for a desired amount of time or until fatigued.

Muscles Worked

  • Abdominals
  • Quadriceps
  • Hamstrings
  • Glutes
  • Hip flexors
  • Calves

Arnold Press

The Arnold Press is a popular exercise that’s named after the famous bodybuilder and actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It’s a variation of the traditional overhead press and provides additional benefits for the shoulders by incorporating rotation of the arms.

How To Do

  1. Start by holding dumbbells at shoulder height with your palms facing your body and your elbows bent.
  2. Inhale and as you exhale, press the dumbbells up and away from your body while rotating your palms so they face forward.
  3. Pause at the top of the movement, then lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position, rotating your palms back to face your body.
  4. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Muscles Worked

  • Shoulders (deltoids)
  • Triceps
  • Upper chest
  • Upper back (trapezius)

Alternating Lunges

young woman doing lunges on leg day

If you’re looking for a lower body exercise that targets multiple muscles at once, alternating lunges might be just what you need.

How To Do

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
  2. Step forward with your right foot, keeping your upper body straight and your core engaged.
  3. Lower your hips until your right knee forms a 90-degree angle, with your knee in line with your ankle.
  4. Push off your right foot to return to the starting position.
  5. Repeat with your left leg, alternating between legs for a set number of reps or time.

Muscles Worked

  • Quadriceps
  • Hamstrings
  • Glutes
  • Calves
  • Core muscles (especially when maintaining balance)

Alternating Toe Touches

Are you looking for an exercise that works your abs, hips, and hamstrings? Look no further than alternating toe touches!

How To Do

  1. Lie on your back with your arms straight above your head.
  2. Lift your right arm and left leg up at the same time.
  3. Reach across your body and touch your toes.
  4. Return to the starting position and repeat with the other side.
  5. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

Muscles Worked

  • Abs
  • Hips
  • Hamstrings

Arm Circles

Arm circles are a simple and effective exercise that you can do anywhere without any equipment. They’re great for increasing shoulder flexibility and mobility.

How To Do

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms extended straight out to the sides at shoulder height.
  2. Begin making small circular motions with your arms, gradually increasing the size of the circles.
  3. Reverse the direction of the circles after a few repetitions.
  4. Repeat for 1-2 minutes or until you feel a burn in your shoulder muscles.

Muscles Worked

  • Deltoids
  • Rotator cuff
  • Scapular stabilizers
  • Trapezius

Ankle Hops

Ankle hops, also known as ankle jumps, are a plyometric exercise that improves your lower body explosiveness and power. They can help improve your foot and ankle stability, coordination, and strength.

How to do

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointing forward, and arms at your sides.
  2. Slightly bend your knees and rise up onto the balls of your feet.
  3. Begin jumping up and down rapidly, keeping your movements quick and light.
  4. Make sure to land softly on the balls of your feet each time.
  5. Keep your upper body straight and your core tight throughout the exercise.

Muscles Worked

  • Calves
  • Glutes
  • Quads
  • Hamstrings

Air Squats

Air squats are a simple and effective bodyweight exercise that you can do almost anywhere, making them a great addition to any workout routine.

How To Do

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and toes pointing slightly outward.
  2. Keep your back straight and chest up as you lower your body by pushing your hips back and bending your knees.
  3. Keep your weight on your heels and make sure your knees don’t extend beyond your toes.
  4. Push through your heels to return to starting position.

Muscles Worked

  • Quadriceps
  • Hamstrings
  • Glutes
  • Calves
  • Core muscles

Around The World

The “Around The World” exercise is a compound exercise that involves rotating your arms in circular motion while holding a weight.

How To Do

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell or a plate in both hands at chest level.
  2. Start by lifting the weight above your head and then slowly move it around in a circular motion.
  3. As you move the weight down, make sure to keep your arms straight and engage your core.
  4. Once you have completed the circle, bring the weight back to the starting position and repeat for the desired number of reps.

Muscles Worked

  • Shoulders
  • Chest
  • Triceps

Ab Rollouts

Ab Rollouts are a challenging exercise that require core strength and stability.

How To Do

  1. Begin in a kneeling position with your hands on an ab wheel or stability ball.
  2. Slowly roll the wheel/ball forward while keeping your core engaged and your arms extended.
  3. Continue rolling forward until your body is fully extended, with your arms overhead and your torso hovering just above the ground.
  4. Hold the extended position for a moment, then use your abs to pull yourself back to the starting position.
  5. Repeat for desired reps.

Muscles Worked

  • Rectus Abdominis
  • Obliques
  • Hip Flexors
  • Lower Back Muscles

Arch Hold

The Arch Hold is a simple yet effective bodyweight exercise that targets the muscles in your lower back, glutes, and posterior chain.

It’s an awesome exercise for improving posture, developing core strength, and reducing the risk of lower back pain.

How To Do

  1. Lie face down on a mat or comfortable surface.
  2. Extend your arms out in front of you and lift your legs off the ground.
  3. Keeping your arms and legs straight, lift your upper body off the ground, creating an arch shape with your body.
  4. Hold this position for as long as you can, making sure to engage your glutes and lower back muscles.

Muscles Worked

  • Lower back muscles
  • Glutes
  • Posterior chain muscles

Adductor Squeeze

Adductor squeeze is an isolation exercise that targets the adductor muscles located in the inner thighs. This exercise helps to strengthen these muscles, which can improve overall lower body strength and stability.

How To Do

  1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
  2. Place a stability ball or pillow between your knees and squeeze it as hard as you can.
  3. Hold the squeeze for 5-10 seconds before releasing.
  4. Repeat for 10-15 repetitions.

Muscles Worked

  • Adductors (inner thighs)

Alternating Bicep Curls

If you’re looking to build strong, defined biceps, then alternating bicep curls are an excellent exercise to include in your workout routine.

How To Do

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and hold a dumbbell in each hand.
  2. Keep your back straight and your arms extended by your sides.
  3. Begin by curling one dumbbell up towards your shoulder, keeping your elbow close to your side.
  4. Pause for a second at the top of the movement, and then slowly lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
  5. Repeat the movement with your other arm.

Muscles Worked

  • Biceps
  • Brachialis
  • Brachioradialis
  • Forearm muscles.

Conclusion

Whether it’s an alternating variation or an ab-focused exercise, there are plenty of awesome exercises that start with A to choose from.

My favorites on this list are ab rollouts and alternating bicep curls.

But what are yours? Please share them in the comments below!

That’s all for this article, but perhaps you’re interested in exercises starting with E? Or what about exercises that start with N?

Hope this helped!

Sources

https://www.skimble.com/exercises/492-alternating-bicep-curls-how-to-do-exercise

https://www.exercise.com/exercises/alternating-toe-touch/