Abdominal Exercise Tips

Abdominal exercise tips:  Your abdominal muscles are the ones that help develop core strength. You can do sit-ups till the cows come home, but the only muscle you’re working on is the rectus (the six-pack). In fact, if you go too hard, you may damage some core muscles.

The core muscles that Pilates advocates most encourage, are those that wrap around your torso like an old fashioned corset.  There are 3 layers of muscles (the abdominal obliques, and transverse abdominus).

Another very important core muscle that has only recently become to be acknowledge, is your psoas muscles.  I strongly suggest that you read the page on these extraordinary muscles. Click here..

Its very important to strengthen all of your core muscles. Why? Here are some  very good reasons: 

  • You'll look your very best
  • They help hold you upright
  • They help with balance, good posture and alignment
  • They work with back muscles to stabilise and support the spine
  • You'll improved control over bladder & bowel function

Abdominal Exercise Tip - #1

TOP 3 AB EXERCISES  .  Realistically though, it might have been a few years ago that you looked like this, but we can live in hope or just accept what we are and firm things up a bit!

One of the central tenets of pilates, is core strength. The core muscles I refer to are your solar plexus and include the diaphragm, transverse abdominus (the one that flattens your tummy) and multifidus (either side of lower spine), the oblique abdominals and the pelvic floor.

Tip!  page or take a look at the VIDEO below with these exercises. It only takes 3 minutes.

Abdominal Exercise Tip #2: Pelvic Floor Exercises

??  Another good tip... Did you ever think that the pelvic floor was a core muscle.  It certainly is.  It's the core of the core of you.  

This region in pilates is often referred to as the powerhouse as it is in eastern exercise philosophies. In eastern philosophies such as yoga, tai chi and chi gung, it is referred to as the centre of chi (or energy.)

There are a number of ways to strengthen these muscles and to actually learn how to "engage" the core - these are outlined here in our CORE STRENGTH page. The pelvic floor muscles are literally the foundation of the core and need special attention. so check out LINK: Pelvic Floor Exercises.


To Pilates Abdominal Exercises 

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