Top Ab Exercises!

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By Lexi Walters


The Ballet Crunch

• Sit on the floor and extend your legs, pressing them firmly together.
• Lean back 45 degrees from the hips.
• Keep your abs engaged as you bring both your arms overhead like a ballerina.
• Slowly twist your torso to the right, placing your right arm on the mat. Keep your left arm reaching overhead for a slow count of 3.
• Repeat the movement, keeping your left arm on the floor, and keeping your butt and heels on the floor.
• Contract your abs to support your spine as you return to center, bringing both arms overhead.
• Continue alternating sides. Do 2 sets of 6 to 8 reps on each side.

The Climb Up

• Start by lying on the floor with a 3-foot-long scarf or towel wrapped around the ball of your right foot, knees bent, left foot on the floor.
• Hold the scarf in both hands, and extend your right leg, keeping your foot flexed.
• Slowly walk your hands up the scarf as you lift your head and shoulders off the floor. Hold for a count of 2.
• Now lower yourself back to the starting position, walking your hands back down the scarf.
• Do two sets of 8 to 10 reps on each sides Be sure to keep your head neutral -- don't tuck your chin or tilt back.

Squat Thrust with Twist

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and extend your arms in front of you at shoulder height.
• Begin by squatting down, bending your knees 90 degrees, and twisting your upper body to the left.
• Now come up and repeat theexercise to the right.
• Keep your weight in your heels and don't allow your knees to jut forward away from your toes.
• Keep your knees facing forward as your chest and shoulders move side to side.
• For the best results, bend your knees as close to 90 degrees as possible.

The Prone Plank

• Get into a full pushup position with your palms on the floor beneath your shoulders.
• Hold here for 30 seconds, with your abs contracted and your arms and legs extended and your head aligned with your spine.
• As you build strength, hold this position longer, up to one minute.
• Go deeper: Try the one-arm stable switching plank.
  
  
  More ab exercises in the next post..