Easy Exercise Routine For The Abdominals
Finding an easy exercise routine for your abdominals isn’t difficult. You only need to know some basics about your stomach muscles and then you will be able to perform the exercises correctly. Abdominal exercises are not about “the more, the better”. It’s more effective and you will have a better result if you do fewer repetitions, but you must focus on actually finding the ab muscles and feel them working. Your ab muscles are divided into three groups; the upper abs, the lower abs and the oblique, known as the love handles. Each group needs its own easy exercise. You will find here one easy exercise routine for each muscle group. Start with the exercise for your lower abs, then the obliques, before doing the exercise for your upper abs. I also give you one easy exercise routine that works all the muscle groups simultaneously and one that you can actually do on company time sitting at your desk in the office. Start with 3-4 sets of about 10 repetitions and increase as your abs get stronger. Rest for about 90 seconds between each set.
The Reversed Crunch
This is an easy exercise routine for the lower abs. It’s essential to focus on the working on your lower ab muscles. Take some time to actually find the muscle and feel the contraction to make sure you are doing the exercise efficiently. Don’t fool yourself by swinging your legs; it’s the abs that must do the work. Take a deep breathe before you start each set and breathe out on the way up, in on the way down.
Step 1 Lie on you back on the floor. Your hands can be place on the floor along side your hips or behind your head. Bend your knees a little, with your legs in the air and the ankles crossed. Step 2 Slowly lift your butt from the floor and feel the squeeze in your lower abs. Keep this position for about 2-3 seconds before slowly lowering your butt to the starting position.
The Cross Crunch
This is an easy exercise routine for the oblique muscles. Feel the contraction of the abs muscle as you do the exercise. If you have a neck problem you can rest your head in both your hands but be careful not to try to lift your upper body with your neck muscles, it’s the abs muscle need to do the work. Make sure the head is heavily relaxed in your hands, with no tension at all in the neck muscles.Do 3-4 sets on the one leg before moving over to the other. Take a deep breathe before you start each set and breathe out on the way up, in on the way down.
Step 1 Lie on your back with your knees bent, so that your left foot is flat on the floor. Bend your right leg and place your right foot across your left knee. Your left hand is on the side of your head and the right hand on the floor along side you. (Or both your hands are supporting your neck.) Step 2 With a slow twisting movement; curl up your body, as you bring you left shoulder toward your right knee. Feel the squeeze in your abs muscles as you slowly lower you body to the floor again. Step 3 Do the same on the other side.
The Basic Crunch
This is the basic easy exercise routine for the upper abs. The challenge with this exercise is to get the ab muscles to do the work and not using other muscles to lift your shoulders. Only in that way will you have flatter abs. This exercise is not about trying to reach your knees with your chest; just lifting your shoulders a little off the floor is enough. If you try to sit up your hip flexors will do most of the work and you run the risk of injuring your back. If you know you have a neck problem you can rest you head in both your hands but be careful not to try to lift your upper body with your neck muscles, it’s the abs muscle that are doing the work. Make sure the head is heavily relaxed in your hands, with no tension at all in the neck muscles. Take a deep breathe before you start each set and breathe out on the way up, in on the way down.
Step 1 Lie on your back on the floor with your knees bent at a 90 degree angle and your feet resting on the floor. Keep your hands on the side of your head or behind your head supporting the neck. Step 2 Lift your shoulder blades slightly off the floor using only the stomach muscles, without moving the legs. You should feel this in your abs. Hold the position at the top and squeeze the muscles a little extra before you slowly lower your body to the floor. Only touch the floor lightly with your shoulder blades before you repeat.
The Bicycle Exercise
This easy exercise routine works all the three areas of your stomach simultaneously and I recommend that you first become familiar with the exercises that work one muscle at a time before you move on to this one. In this way you will get more out of the exercise as you will know how it feels when each muscle is working. Don’t “rush” through this exercise, it’s much better to take it slowly and really feel the muscles working. If you have a neck problem you can rest you head in both your hands but be careful not to try to lift your upper body with your neck muscles, it’s the abs muscle that are doing the work. Make sure the head is heavily relaxed in your hands, with no tension at all in the neck muscles. Take a deep breathe before you start each set and breathe out as you bring one leg up and out as the same leg goes down.
Step 1 Lie on your back on the floor with your hands behind your head. Lift your shoulder blades slightly off the floor and bend your knees a little and bring them in towards your chest. Step 2 Straighten the right leg to approximately a 45 degree angle while, at the same time, turn your shoulders to the left side. Bring the right elbow towards the left knee. Step 3 Bend the right leg as you straighten the left leg moving your upper body so the left elbow turns towards the right knee. Continue altering sides in a slow motion. Don’t forget to breathe.
Chair Leg Lifts
This is a very easy exercise routine that you do in a chair, perfect for doing at the office. The difficult thing about this exercise is actually remember to do it!Remember as you straighten your back to also lower your shoulders and pull them slightly backwards. This will help you with your posture and also improve your breathing. Start with just a few repetitions and add on as your abs get stronger, it may feel a bit awkward in the beginning. Hold the position for as long as you can but not more than 5 seconds. Take a deep breathe before you start each set and breathe in as you lift your legs and out as you lower them.
Step 1 Sit with your back straight and your shoulders back and down. You can place your hands on the desk in front of you or on the seat of the chair. Step 2 Slowly lift your knees. Don’t lean backwards to the back of your chair or try to help with your arms. Make sure the ads are working. Slowly lower your knees to the floor.
For more easy exercises, see: Easy Exercises - Upper Body
Easy Exercises - Legs
Easy Exercises - Stomach
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