An exercise to strengthen the abdominal muscles and reduce the risk of backache or back stiffness (e.g., during pregnancy). The patient kneels on her hands and knees, hollows her back and pushes out her abdomen while inhaling, and arches her back like a cat and contracts the abdominal, gluteal, and levator muscles while exhaling. The exercise can be done while standing with the hands on the knees. The effects are maximized by concurrent abdominal breathing.