A torso exercise machine includes a frame designed to rest upon a floor surface; a seat pivotally mounted on the frame; at least one handlebar pivotally mounted on the frame; and a link pivotally interconnected between the seat and the handlebar. The link constrains the seat and the handlebar to pivot in opposite directions relative to the frame. A resistance device may be interconnected between the handlebar and the frame to resist pivoting of the handlebar and the seat toward one another.

An abdominal exercise machine is provided which includes a seat, which is pivotally linked to a base frame. At least one link includes a handle that can be actuated by a user sitting on the seat. The user presses the handle away from the seat by flexing the trunk muscles of the user. This curls the user's body into a flexed trunk position. As the handle is actuated forward, the linkage arrangement causes the seat to displace upward. This pushes the center of gravity of the user up, thereby doing work and thereby providing resistance to the movement caused by the exercise. The handle may be adjustable in position relative to the link, thereby varying the load used by the user. Foot supports may also be provided either in front of the seat or behind the seat. The foot supports may be mounted to the frame of the seat frame which supports the seat.

An exercise apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a pedestal, a seat supported by the pedestal, and at least two handle members mounted to opposing sides of the pedestal, to be gripped generally at their top end by a user oriented relative to the seat. The pedestal has a curved base for permitting rocking movement of the pedestal about a substantially intermediate axis, generally orthogonal to opposing sides on which the handle members are placed. The handle members preferably include bar-shaped structures hinged to the pedestal via respective ball joints.

An exercise apparatus that will exercise at least five groups of muscles is disclosed. The exercise apparatus exercises the abdominal muscles, the serratus muscles, the intercostals muscles and the leg muscles. The apparatus uses a seated position for the person exercising and the exerciser is seated on a swing. When the exerciser contracts his or her abdominal muscles while lifting the legs, the swing rotates such that the exerciser's feet rotate upward. When the exerciser releases tension on the abdominal muscles, the apparatus goes back to its original position. When the exerciser bends forward, the above four groups of muscles are exercised.

An exercise machine includes a frame having a horizontally extending seat mounted thereon. A foot restraint assembly is pivotally mounted about a first horizontal pivot axis to the frame. A motion translation arrangement has one end pivotally secured about a second horizontal pivot axis to the frame, and an opposite end extending beyond the frame. An arm, back and head support is pivotally secured about a third horizontal pivot axis to the opposite end of the motion translation arrangement and is moveable forwardly relative to the foot restraint assembly. The second horizontal pivot axis and the third horizontal pivot axis enable a sequential, compound, articulated abdominal exercise movement as the arm, back and head support is moved towards the foot restraint assembly.