subject: Abdominal Exercises Using Equipments [print this page] Everyone wants washboard abdominals but getting them eludes most people. It is true that simple crunches and other exercise may get the job done but others need equipment or some gadgets to inspire them and add a little variety to the same old workout. The equipment-assisted abdominal exercises help ensure that you continue and complete each exercises to justify and maximize its use.
Cable Crunch
This exercise needs a triceps pushdown machine with a rope attachment or stirrups. To prepare, kneel below the high pulley and clutch the cable rope attachment with both hands. Put your wrists against your head then flex your hips while allowing resistance on cable pulley to lift your torso upward until the spine assumes a hyperextended position. With your hips at stationary, flex waist so that elbows travel toward the middle of your thighs. Return to starting position and repeat eight to twelve times. When two soft stirrups are available instead of a rope attachment, firmly hold the stirrups at the side of the head.
To add variety to your workout, you may also perform a standing cable crunch. To start, position your back against the back pad with your knees slightly bent, shoulders back and chest high. Grasp each of the rope attachment and place over your shoulders. Afterwards place hands with cable ropes in front of each shoulder such that the cable is taunt, flex waist so that your torso pulls the ropes forward and downward. Return until the back of your shoulders return to surface. Repeat alternating twists with opposite sides.
BOSU Balance Trainer
BOSU Balance Trainer is a stability ball that is cut in half and mounted on a flt rubber platform. It is a nice way of working your abdominals with variety. BOSU stands for Both Sides Up and has a flexible dome on top and a flat platform underneath that allows users to squat, twist, stand, jump and bounce to challenge you stability. Since your back and abdominals are deeply involved in balance and stabilization, this balance trainer can strength your core in a variety of ways.
One such exercise is the Russian twist, which requires you to sit on top of the BOSU ball. Put your hands in front, lift your feet off the ground, and find your balance. Afterwards twist your upper body to one side then to the other side making sure to repeat 10 - 25 times on each side.
Abdominal exercises offer different levels of workout but with the aid of certain equipment, completing a workout will be a cinch. In the end, a well-developed abs may be your ticket to a completely new world of fitness and fashion.
