Abs Training

Abs training is very important other than just looking good and attractive.  And here are the reasons:

• It is essential for back health.  The abs link the top half of the body with the bottom half for coordination of body movement.
• They facilitate bending, twisting, pushing and pulling motions as well as repeated lifting of objects.
• They provide a stable base of support for the back.
• If the ab muscles are weak (and remember they help the spine), they become easily fatigued, causing pelvis tilt and undue stress on the lower back.
• By strengthening the abdominal muscles as well as practicing daily stretching of the muscles in the lower back and hamstrings, we can help to prevent imbalances that lead to current and future back problems.
• Low back pain has a high recurrence rate, so the best way to reduce incidences of injury is by following a good, simple, exercise program every day, including:
  • Lower Back Stretches
  • Hamstring Stretches
  • exercise.fitnessguide101.com/2-minutes-ab-workout" target="_blank">Abdominal Crunches
  • Fanny Lifts (Reverse Curls)
  • Alternate Side Twists

Be sure to check with you physician or healthcare professional before beginning any exercise program. Endurance and repetitions of each of these exercises may increase over time, depending upon individual fitness levels. You can complete on average, 10-50 of each exercise daily, as long as you maintain good technique and form and you are healthy and free of injury.

Here are few tips to ensure proper form when you are strengthening your abdominals:

• Contract your abdominal wall towards your spine. This will help prevent arching of the back.
• Lift your head, neck and shoulders as if they were one part and not three separate pieces of the body.
• Avoid pulling on the neck to facilitate movement.
• Practice proper breathing techniques. Exhale on the hardest part of the movement and inhale as you lower your body back to the floor.
• Avoid bouncing, swinging or jerking body parts during the exercises.
• Stretch your muscles before starting any abdominal exercises and cool down following the same protocol.

Abs training needs not depend on fancy and expensive gadgets that promise you sculpted abdominal without consistent training, discipline and hard work.  But the bottom line is, you yourself have to be willing to ‘get down and do the exercises’ or all the abs machines, DVDs, books or any other tools you might have still won’t help getting you the abs you crave.