subject: 2 Effective Ways For Stronger Rippling Abdominals [print this page] Your core muscles or abdominal muscles are very important. The core muscles help to stabilize your spine and pelvis. When your core muscles are fit and strong they provide a sturdy platform from which to move your body and limbs with the optimum efficiency and power. Strong abdominal muscles will also lower your risk of getting injured while doing physical exercise or lifting heavy weights.
The key objective of your core muscles is to hold the body while other parts or limbs are moving such as the arms and legs. For example, if you look at a side way view of the spine you will notice that it has a unique S shape. One of the jobs of the abdominal muscles is to ensure the spine maintains that S shape when you are doing strenuous exercise or lifting weights.
The unique thing with the ab muscles is that you do not have to strengthen them by lifting weights as with other muscles groups in the body. This means that the exercises to strengthen the core muscles do not involve weights. This means you do not need to buy expensive exercise machines. However, just because the they do not have to use weight does not mean that these muscle groups should be dismissed as part of a training program. Actually, they are the most important because to perform at the best of your ability you need to work from a strong base.
The following two exercises are very simple but effective. They are basically the same however, one of the exercises has a slight variation to make it less strenuous for those who are just starting out.
The Plank
To begin this exercise lie stretched out and face down on a mat or flat surface. Place your elbows just below your shoulders with your forearms pointing forward or straight ahead of you. Raise your body off the floor and keep it straight. You can do this by drawing your belly button towards your spinal area. At this point the whole weight of your body should be supported by the toes of each foot and both your forearms to form a straight line as flat as a plank. The key to make this effective is to maintain that straight line. Do not lower or let your mid section sag downwards. Stay in this position for as long as you can and breathe normally.
The Modified Plank
This variation makes it easier if you find the ordinary plank exercise too difficult. Start in the same position as the plank above however, when raising your body keep both your knees on the floor. With this modified technique you will form a straight line from the top of the head to your knees.
If you have any medical condition or injury then always consult a doctor or physician for advice before doing any new type of exercises.
