Want a lean body with defined abdominal lines? I’m right there with you in the summer. As a trainer, I am aware of how crucial it is for my clients to have a flat, toned stomach, both physically and psychologically. Physically, everything you do, including walking, sitting, bending, standing, reaching, and lifting, depends on your abdominals.
In your mind, it offers you the freedom to feel your finest and wear anything you choose without fear. For this reason, I’ve compiled the best ab exercises that will leave your core trembling, your body wet, and your head buzzing with feel-good endorphins. What’s best? These 10-minute tummy-tightening exercises may be performed at any time, anyplace, and don’t require any equipment.
Tummy-tightening Exercises
1. V Sit-Up
Laying on your back with your legs extended in front of you in the shape of a “V” and your arms overhead is how to begin a V sit-up. Take a deep breath in and gently raise your upper body off the floor. Reach your arms upward to widen your chest while your shoulders stack over your hips.
At that point, extend your arm forward, engage your core, and touch your toes with your hands. You’ll also experience a great hamstring stretch. Using your core and not your momentum, carefully lower yourself back to the starting position after exhaling.
2. Sprinters
Sprinters are to be performed right now. Spread your legs out in front of you while you lie on your back with your arms overhead. Pulling your right knee toward your chest as you inhale and raising your arms and upper torso, place your arms next to your right knee.
Inhale, then gently inhale again. Continue by switching legs, and as you rise up, bring your chest toward your knee to make sure your core is engaged. Do 20 repetitions.
3. Crunch + Leg Extension
This time, begin with your elbows spread wide and your hands behind your head. Your legs should be in a tabletop posture. Take a deep breath in, squeeze your elbows to tap your knees, and then stretch your legs out to a 45-degree angle while maintaining an upright posture.
Pull your legs back in for the subsequent crunch as you exhale. Every time you do a crunch, pay attention to raising your shoulder blades a bit higher and bringing your abs in while you stretch your legs out. Perform 15 repetitions.
4. Leg Raise with Pulse
To perform this motion, lie on your back with your hands behind your butt and lift your legs straight up in the air just over your hips. To activate your lower abdominals, first breathe in and pulse your legs up to the ceiling.
Then, slowly drop them down until they are only an inch or so off the mat or floor. Exhale as you raise your legs back up above your hips while keeping them as straight as you can. Instead of engaging your hip flexors, the idea is to engage your lower abs. Make 15 repetitions.
5. Lateral V-Ups
You will begin by lying on your right side, focusing more on your right glute than your right hip for comfort, as this exercise targets your obliques. Lay your right forearm flat on the mat so that it is parallel to the mat’s top. Bring your left hand over your shoulder as you extend your legs out and stack them on top of one another.
As you take a breath, pull your legs up toward the ceiling and tap your feet with your left hand. Just for a split second, hold the squeeze at the peak, and then exhale to lower yourself back to the beginning position. Finish your repetitions on this side before moving on to the next side. 10 repetitions should be done on each side.