10 Ab Exercises to Strengthen Your Core
Whether you're a dancer who wants to improve balance and develop a stronger core or someone who simply wants to maintain a flat tummy, come try this ab exercise routine with me!
Core strength is very important to dancers in order to maintain proper posture and balance all throughout a performance. Here are 10 moves that I normally incorporate into my ab exercises to keep it interesting. Try them out!
Move #1: Modified V-Ups
If you can, do it slowly and with control. Try not to jerk on your way up. Peel the spine off the floor one vertebra at a time.
Move #2: Modified Hundreds
Keep chest in and ribs shouldn't be popping out (keeping your chin to your chest may help if it gets difficult). Keep shoulders down.
Move #3: Ab Rotation Hold
Same as #2.
Move #4: Hang / Ab Hold
Same as #2. And keep your elbows pointed to the sides if you can.
Move #5: Side Leg Raises
Keep supporting arm vertical to the floor. Engage core the whole time to use less of leg muscles.
Move #6: Leg Raises w/ Press Up
When you lower your legs, try to go as low / closer to the floor as you can without arching your back. If you feel that you are starting to arch, stop at the angle your leg is in and keep it at that for the meantime.
Move #7: Oblique Crunches - Leg Up
Try to keep your legs straight and really vertical to the floor (mine got a little out of line in the end, oops!).
Move #8: Bicycle Crunches - Leg Stretched
Keep outstretched leg at a 45 degree angle.
Move #9: Leg Hold
Engage your core and use less of quads.
Move #10: Plank + Single Leg Plank
Maintain straight line of the body parallel to the floor. Press down the shoulders.
