Thursday, February 26, 2009

Modified Jakckknife






works your obliques) Lie on your left side, left leg extended, left knee soft, right knee bent, foot on the floor behind left knee Extend left arm on floor, bend right elbow and place hand behind head.

Crunch up to the side, lifting right shoulder toward right hip. Lower almost to starting position and repeat. Complete both sets; switch sides and repeat.

Wide-Leg Crunch







(works your upper rectus abdominis) Lie back with your knees bent 90 degrees, feet about 2 feet apart. Loop a towel around the back of your neck and hold an end in each hand; contract abs.

Lift your shoulder blades several inches off the floor (don?t pull on the towel to lift). Slowly lower until shoulders are about an inch from the floor and repeat.

Knee Lift


(works your lower rectus abdominis) Sit on the edge of a chair, knees bent, feet flat on the floor; hold on to sides of chair. Tighten abs, lean back slightly and lift feet several inches (keeping knees bent).

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Contract abs


Contract abs and lift shoulders, then your back, curling all the way up. Too strenuous? Just lift shoulder blades off the floor. Lower almost to floor and repeat.

Army Sit-Up


(works your upper rectus ab-dominis) Lie down, knees bent, feet together and anchored under an ottoman or a couch; loop a towel around the back of your neck and hold each end.

Immediately repeat with left knee, keeping your shoulders lifted off the wall the entire time.

Standing Lower-Ab Curl


works your lower rectus abdominis) Stand with your back to a wall, feet about a foot away from it, knees soft. Keeping feet in place, lean against the wall and rest hands on it by your sides. Contract your abs and bend and lift right knee as you raise shoulders a few inches off the wall and curl down toward your knee.

Walking Lunge Kick


(works butt, legs) Lunge forward with right foot so right knee is over ankle, left leg is extended behind you and arms are bent with fists in front of chest. In one motion, shift all weight to right foot, stand on right leg and bring left knee up in front to hip level, then kick flexed left foot forward. Hold for one count, then lunge forward with left leg. Rise on left leg, bring right knee up and kick forward. Quickly repeat lunge-and-kick motion across floor until you've done 12 kicks per leg.