One of the areas that men and women most want to tone is their abdominal area. There's no doubt about it – the advantages of ab workouts are manifold. A toned, flat tummy is not only sexy, but it also improves your posture and strengthens your core. Achieving firmer abs takes some work, but the results are certainly worth the effort.
At Virgin Active's Health Clubs, we offer many types of equipment and ab workout routines designed to help you target your abdominal area. We also have highly experienced Personal Trainers who can help you pick the right exercises for defining your abs. Of course, any ab workout routine should be done in conjunction with full-body and cardio exercises, so that you can show off a fully toned and healthy body.
Next time you hit your favourite Virgin Active Club, try out some of the ab workout routines below, proven to be the most effective. If you need some guidance to get you started, ask one of the Club's experienced fitness team to show you the best ab workouts for men or ab workouts for women.
3 of the most effective ab workout routines
Fitness trainers, scientists and workout junkies agree: Some ab workout routines are more effective than others. Here, in no particular order, are three of the most effective ones, designed to help you attain that toned tum or desirable six-pack with a little effort and persistence!
1. Stability ball crunches
The stability balls at your gym are exceptionally useful to your workouts – especially when you're using them to target your abs. Stability ball ab crunches focus on the lower section of your abs – the rectus abdominis – which is also one of the more difficult areas to tone. Lie face-up on the ball, with the ball supporting your lower back. Put your hands behind your head, or crossed over your chest. Now simply crunch! Lift your upper body up and down, without losing your balance or letting the ball slip away.
2. Bicycle ab exercise
The bicycle ab exercise is another highly effective ab workout routine, and targets the entire abdominal area – six-pack, lower abs, obliques and waist. Lying on your back with your hands behind your head, you'll bring your knees to your chest, and then straighten your right leg and twist your body to the left, enabling your right elbow to touch the left knee. Repeat on the other side, and keep doing this until you've completed your set. The bicycle ab workout is recognised as one of the most effective ab exercises, and you don't only have to do it at the Club: If you're looking for ab workouts at home, you can do this one anytime – no ab workout machines needed!
3. Captain's chair
This exercise uses a piece of ab workout equipment called the captain's chair to target the obliques and lower abs. Stabilising your upper body and bracing your back against the pad of the machine, you contract your abdominal muscles and lift your knees up, aiming for your chest. Lower your legs slowly, and repeat. There is a correct way of doing this exercise without injuring your lower back, so if you've never used the machine before, ask any of the Club's fitness team to show you the correct technique.
Start your ab workout routines today
With a bit of effort and lots of persistence, you can have the abs you dream of. Get started today! Visit your nearest Virgin Active Health Club, or learn about ab workouts at home, such as ab crunches and other simple ab workouts. Remember to follow these tips before you start!
Courtesy Virgin Active
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