April 10, 2015
3 Ways To Make Your Ab Workout More Effective
A tougher core workout takes more than just adding seconds to your planks.
Science from the Postural Restoration Institute shows that the way you breathe during your core exercises more or less makes or breaks them. A trick of the breath can make each second and each rep pack a bigger punch, strengthening the muscles deep in the core.
Doug Kechijian, a doctor of physical therapy at Peak Performance in New York City, divulges 3 secrets to make every second spend on your core even more effective.
1. Exhale Completely
"The whole point of most core exercises is to teach your body to protect your spine by not overextending your back," says Kechijian. "Exhaling completely before you do an exercise sets your rib cage down, not flared out, which is the best position to save your spine and activate your abs." Before any core move, exhale completely so your ribs are "down" and maintain that rib position throughout the move. Breathe deeply in that position while you are doing the exercise.