With this little abdominal routine, you will get a strong core that will also help you in other types of exercises that need or involve a central part of the body.
For me, my body’s ability to support itself through my core instead of putting unnecessary pressure on my back or other areas of my body is vital to staying healthy.
The same goes for lifting weights, the stronger your core, the better you can support your body without putting unnecessary pressure on other areas. What has helped me is having a core abs routine to follow every day.
5 Exercise Abs Routine
Tables / Plates
There’s no way to avoid it. No matter how much we hate them, boards are essential to having a strong core. The key with planks is that you have to keep the proper shape.
If you start to notice that your back is not flat and your core is “sinking” then you should stop the board. Start with 30 seconds and work your way up. The best thing about boards is that you can see progress quickly!
Bike Crunch
My second core workout is bike crunches. This really targets your oblique sides as well as your core and can be a quick and efficient workout. I am trying to do 50-100 of these at a time.
Then I repeat 3 more times. If you don’t normally do basic work, start out slow and work your way up. It is better to keep the proper shape and then press only to do a certain amount.
Mountaineers / Climber
Another tough workout but one that will help you build a strong core. It’s a full-body workout, so more muscles are involved than just your core.
Make your body form a straight line. Lift one leg off the ground and bring your knee to your chest. Return to your starting position and repeat with the other leg. These are difficult but very effective!
Sit-Ups on The Wall / The Chair
This is another dreaded exercise on many people’s minds, but it will leave your core hard!
The process is simple: get about 2 feet from the wall and lean against it with your back. Slide down until your knees are at a 90-degree angle and support yourself while keeping your abs tight.
Hold for 20 seconds, or 1 minute. You can vary the angle of the squat so that it works on your lower body as well. This is a great basic exercise that works on multiple areas of your body at once.
Planks with Openings
Are you ready for a real treat? Once you’ve mastered the correct form of a board, try to increase it with intensity. It is exactly what it sounds like. Begin in the normal plank position, but this time spread your legs in a “V”.
Then put them back together. The key is to keep your core stabilized. Use your core and no other areas of your body for support. You can also change the way you place your arms and instead lean on your elbows; you can lean on your hands.
Conclusion
Adding these basic exercises to your abs routine will make a big difference. Start slow, focusing on exercise technique and work your way up, and not only will you feel better, but you will substantially reduce your chances of injury.
