Make sure that only the lowest part of your back comes off the ground nothing higher. Keep your entire upper body on the ground. Engage your core as you lift your hips and knees toward your chest. Keep your calves parallel to the mat so that your legs are in a table-top position. With your knees bent, squeeze your abs and raise your legs so that your knees are hovering over your hips at a 90-degree angle. Hold this position, squeezing the abs, then switch sides. Reach your left hand down toward the ground. Begin moving your torso down toward the left, crunching the left oblique, so that your right elbow reaches up toward the sky. Place the right hand on the back of the head like you would for a crunch. Stand with your feet hips-distance apart and your arms at your sides. Repeat for about 15 repetitions, and make sure not to speed up as you go. Continue to alternate, moving your legs in a flutter motion. Lift one leg up as your lower the other toward the floor. Squeeze your core and lower both of your legs 6-12 inches down to about a 45-degree angle. You can also place your hands under your butt for increased stabilization. Lie on your back with your legs straight up toward the ceiling. Alternate between sides, performing 10 times on each side. Repeat using your right arm and left leg. After that, bend your left elbow and your right knee, crunching your abs, until they touch underneath your stomach. Straighten your left arm straight out in front of you and your right leg out behind you. Get on all fours with your palms directly below your shoulders and your knees below your hips.

Remember to breathe and concentrate on engaging your abs, glutes and hamstrings. Repeat, alternating your legs and keeping a steady pace. Return your right leg back to plank position bring your left leg under your chest toward your left elbow. Bring your right knee under your chest toward your right elbow. Mountain climbersīegin in plank position, keeping your back straight, your hips low and your core engaged. Extend the left arm straight up to the ceiling, and hold the position for 30-45 seconds before coming through plank and switching sides. Pull the abs in toward the spine and the right hip away from the floor. Press down through your right hand, keeping it directly underneath your right shoulder, and slowly bring the left hand onto your left hip. Turn onto the right outer edge of the right foot, stacking the left foot on top.

Pull your naval in toward your spine, and hug your legs together as you bring the left foot to touch the right. Side plankĬome into a plank position with your shoulders over your wrists. Make sure your shoulders are over your wrists, and that you’re looking a few inches in front of your fingers to keep your head and neck elongated. Squeeze your quads and reach your heels toward the back of the room. Tuck your toes under and lift your legs up off of the ground. Pull your navel in toward your spine as if there is fire on the mat and you’re trying to pull your stomach away from the fire. Line your shoulders up over your wrists, and make sure your wrists are parallel with the front of the mat. Start on your hands and knees on the mat. Here are 15 abdominal exercises from personal trainer and TODAY fitness contributor Stephanie Mansour that you can try at home. A stronger core is important for stability, support in everyday movements, maintaining good posture and reducing back pain. You may start an ab routine with the goal of achieving a more toned midsection, but the benefits you can reap go far beyond aesthetics. Plus, it’s worthwhile to diversify your workout with different ab exercises to target the core from different angles and create a well-rounded routine that doesn’t get stale. There are lots of effective exercises that strengthen your core. The good news is that situps and crunches are just scratching the surface when it comes to moves that target your abdominals.

Chest workouts at home