All Abdominals

1. Lie on an exercise mat, with your back flat, knees bent and your feet flat on the floor slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
2. Fully extend your arms down the side of your body, palms facing in. This is the start position.
3. Exhaling, crunch your torso forward and to the right until you can touch your right heel with your right hand. Hold for a count of one.
4. Return to the starting position smooth motion, inhaling as you do so.
5. Repeat the movement, this time to your left side.
6. When you have completed the movement on both sides, you have done one repetition.
7. Repeat.

1. Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Alternatively, you can place your feet up on a bench a few inches apart with your toes turned inwards and touching.
2. Place your hands lightly on either side of your head.
3. Keep your elbows in  so that they are parallel to your body.
4. Push your back down flat into the floor to isolate your abdominal muscles.
5. Gently curl your shoulders forward and up off the floor.
6. Continue to push down into the floor with your lower back.
7. Raise your shoulders about four to six inches only.
8. Hold and squeeze your abdominal muscles for a count of one.
9. Return to the start position in a smooth movement.

1. Lie flat on an exercise mat on the floor keeping your lower back straight with no arching of your spine and with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
2. Place your hands lightly on the sides of your head.
3. Curl your torso upwards so your shoulders are slightly raised off the floor..
4. Raise your knees until your thighs are at a right angle to the floor and your calves are parallel to the floor. This is the start position.
5. Slowly move your legs in a pedaling action as if you are riding a bicycle.
6. As you do so, exhale and bring your opposing elbow close to each knee by crunching to one side. Left elbow to right knee. Right elbow to left knee.
7. After each crunch, return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
8. Without pausing, repeat the movement to the other side.
9. Repeat without pausing for the desired number of repetitions to each side.

Do not use your hands to pull your head and neck up during this exercise. Doing so may cause injury. Concentrate on a slow rhythmic cycle from side to side with perfect form for each repetition.

1. Lie on your back. Bring your knees up to a 90-degree angle. Shins should be parallel to the floor. Place your hands behind your head and bring your shoulders off the ground.
2. Exhale and contract your abdominals. Bring your head towards your knees while moving your knees toward your chest.
3. Pause and return to the starting position.

1. Lie on an exercise mat, with your back flat, knees bent and your feet flat on the floor slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
2. Fully extend your arms down the side of your body, palms facing in. This is the start position.
3. Exhaling, crunch your torso forward and to the right until you can touch your right heel with your right hand. Hold for a count of one.
4. Return to the starting position smooth motion, inhaling as you do so.
5. Repeat the movement, this time to your left side.
6. When you have completed the movement on both sides, you have done one repetition.
7. Repeat.

1. Lie on a mat with your hands under your buttocks and raise your legs slightly, keeping knees straight and ankles together.
2. Keep abs engaged and perform short kicks in an alternating fashion.
3. Repeat as needed and then lower legs to the ground.

1. Position yourself on all fours with knees underneath the hips and wrists under the shoulders.
2. Engage your abs and keep your spine neutral, pulling the shoulder blades towards the hips.
3. Lengthen the left leg until it is straight out and in line with your hips while simultaneously raising and straightening your right arm until it is parallel to the floor. Keep your head and shoulders aligned at all times.
4. Gently lower your arm and leg back to the starting position and alternate with the other arm and leg.

1. Lay on a yoga/exercise mat or towel with your arms outstretched, palms down in front of you, and your legs outstretched with your soles facing up.
2. Simultaneously lift your right arm and left leg off the floor.
3. When you reach your flexion point, hold for a second before slowly lowering back down to the floor.
4. Repeat the same movement with your left arm and right leg.

1. Position yourself on all fours on a mat.
2. Position your hands underneath your shoulders and place your knees under your hips.
3. Keep your right knee bent at 90 degrees and flex the foot as you lift the knee until it is level with the hip.
4. Lower the knee without touching the floor and repeat the lift.
5. Once you’ve completed the reps on the right leg, switch legs.

1. Assume a push-up position. Core is tight. Back is flat. Hands are underneath the shoulders. Head is in neutral position.
2. Bring one knee up towards your chest and twist towards the opposing elbow. (Ex: Right knee to left elbow.)
3. Contract the core and return the leg to the starting position.
4. Alternate between legs.

1. Place your hands flat on the floor, shoulder width apart.
2. Extend your torso and legs fully behind you with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
3. Your body should be in a straight line, with your weight supported on your hands and toes only.
4. Starting with either leg, flex your knee and hip at the same time to bring your knee up and under your hip. Your other leg should remain fully extended. This is the start position.
5. Using an explosive movement, reverse the position of your legs, by extending the bent leg back and simultaneously flexing the straight leg until it is in the startposition.
6. Continue alternating in this manner for the desire amount of time.

• Standing up straight, bring your hands behind your head so that your elbows are pointed to the sides.
• Twisting your body, bring your left elbow down and across your body. At the same time, raise your right knee up and across to meet the left elbow.
• Return to the starting position.
• Repeat on the other side and continue alternating.

1. Lie flat on an exercise mat on the floor keeping your lower back straight with no arching of your spine and with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
2. Place your hands lightly on the sides of your head.
3. Curl your torso upwards so your shoulders are slightly raised off the floor..
4. Raise your knees until your thighs are at a right angle to the floor and your calves are parallel to the floor. This is the start position.
5. Slowly move your legs in a pedaling action as if you are riding a bicycle.
6. As you do so, exhale and bring your opposing elbow close to each knee by crunching to one side. Left elbow to right knee. Right elbow to left knee.
7. After each crunch, return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
8. Without pausing, repeat the movement to the other side.
9. Repeat without pausing for the desired number of repetitions to each side.

Do not use your hands to pull your head and neck up during this exercise. Doing so may cause injury. Concentrate on a slow rhythmic cycle from side to side with perfect form for each repetition.

1. Lie on a mat with your hands under your buttocks and raise your legs slightly, keeping knees straight and ankles together.
2. Keep abs engaged and perform short kicks in an alternating fashion.
3. Repeat as needed and then lower legs to the ground.

1. Stand in front of a sturdy bench, box or other flat non slip surface that’s high enough that you must use that you have to use a lot of effort in order to jump up on top of it.
2. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
3. Bend your knees as if crouching or performing a squat.
4. In an explosive movement, push through your feet to jump up onto the landing area.
5. Make a soft landing by bending your knees as your feet touch down.You should land on both feet simultaneously.
6. Step down and repeat.

If you have difficulty landing in a balanced way, the platform may be too high. A variation for advanced athletes is to jump down backwards from the box. Only try this once you have mastered the basic form.

1. Stand with your feet hip width apart. Your toes should be pointing straight ahead or only slightly outward.
2. Cross your arms in front of your body, place your hands behind your head or at the sides of your head.
3. Keep your weight on your heels and bend your knees while lowering your hips towards the ground as if you are sitting down on a chair.
4. Keep your back straight at all times.
5. Continue until you feel a slight stretch in your quadriceps. Do not let your knees extend out beyond the level of your toes.
6. Pause for a count of one.
7. In an explosive movement, drive down through your heels pushing yourself up of the floor with your quads.
8. At the same time extend our arms out above you.
9. Land with your knees slightly bent to absorb the impact.
10. Repeat

1. Begin standing tall with a tight core. Your chest will be up and your gaze will be straight ahead. Bend at the knees and drive your hips back as you lower yourself into a squat position.
2. Launch yourself up while simultaneously twisting to the other side. Your body will perform a 180 degree turn in midair.
3. Land with bent knees and immediately go right into another jump squat, turning to the starting position. Repeat this alternating pattern.

1. Begin by standing tall with a straight back and tight core. Slightly bend the knees and push the hips back. Bring the hands up and keep the chest up. Feet should be shoulder-width apart.
2. Jump and launch yourself forward. Swing your arms back and use the momentum.
3. Land in a squat position. Knees are bent and hips are back. Return to starting position and repeat.

1. Place your hands flat on the floor shoulder width apart.
2. Keep your back straight and fully extend your legs behind you into a regular push up position, but with your feet spread slightly wider than shoulder width. Your body should be supported on your toes and hands only.
3. Keeping your arms straight, move your hands back towards your feet, until your back arches upwards and you are looking between your feet. (Your body should form an upside down “V” shape) This is the start position.
4. As you slowly exhale, bend your elbows, so that your chest and body arc forward and your hips move towards the floor.
5. As you reach the start position, continue the movement by arching your back and straightening your arms. This will push your torso upwards so that your head and chest raise and you are looking above you.
6. Slowly inhale and push through your arms to return to the start position.
7. Repeat.

Hindu push ups are sometimes referred to as Dive Bombers. However a dive bomber incorporates a traditional push up at the midway point of the movement. Beginners: You can perform this exercise in a modified push up stance. That is, with your knees on the floor so the movement is completed using mainly your upper body.

1. Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
2. Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
3. Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
4. Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
5. Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows until your chest is just above the ground or you feel a stretching of your chest and shoulders. Hold for a count of one.
6. Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
7. Repeat.

1. Lie flat on an exercise mat, extending your arms straight back behind your head.
2. Fully extend your legs also. This is the start position.
3. Bend at your waist and at the same time, raise your legs and arms to meet in a closed jackknife position. Exhale as you do this.
4. At this point, your legs should remain fully extended at between 35-45 degrees from the floor.
5. Your arms should be fully extended, parallel to your legs.
6. Your upper body should be raised off the floor.
7. Return to the start position by lowering your arms and legs back to the floor, exhaling as you do so.
8. Repeat.

1. Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Alternatively, you can place your feet up on a bench a few inches apart with your toes turned inwards and touching.
2. Place your hands lightly on either side of your head.
3. Keep your elbows in  so that they are parallel to your body.
4. Push your back down flat into the floor to isolate your abdominal muscles.
5. Gently curl your shoulders forward and up off the floor.
6. Continue to push down into the floor with your lower back.
7. Raise your shoulders about four to six inches only.
8. Hold and squeeze your abdominal muscles for a count of one.
9. Return to the start position in a smooth movement.

1. Position yourself on a decline bench so that your feet are secured by the pads. Lay back and place your arms across your chest or behind your head.
2. Begin the movement by pulling yourself up by your abdominals. Do not force yourself up by pulling on your neck. Let your abs do all the work.
3. Once at the top, slowly lower yourself back down. Again, focus on the abs doing all of the work. Repeat by bringing yourself back up.

1. Lie flat with hands under your buttocks.
2. Keep your knees together and pull them in towards you while moving your torso towards them (lift your head, neck and shoulders up).
3. Hold and then slowly return to starting position.

1. Lie on your back on a mat with hands under your lower buttocks on either side to support your pelvis.
2. Legs straight out in front of you, ankles together and feet slightly off the floor.
3. Keep your knees straight and raise your legs by flexing the hips until they are completely flexed.
4. Return to starting position.

1. Lie on a mat with your hands under your buttocks and raise your legs slightly, keeping knees straight and ankles together.
2. Keep abs engaged and perform short kicks in an alternating fashion.
3. Repeat as needed and then lower legs to the ground.

1. Lie flat with hands under your buttocks.
2. Keep your knees together and pull them in towards you while moving your torso towards them (lift your head, neck and shoulders up).
3. Hold and then slowly return to starting position.

1. Come to the ground on your knees. Tighten your core and maintain a flat back.
2. Position your hands on the ground in front of you, directly below your shoulders. Cross your feet in the back.
3. Lower your chest towards the ground. Bend your elbows at a 60-degree angle until your chest is just above the ground. You should feel a stretch across your chest. Hold for a count of one.
4. Without locking your elbows, push yourself back to the starting position by straightening your arms.

1. Place a pair of dumbbells on the floor. Lie on your back in between the dumbbells. Bend your knees and move your feet towards your butt.
2. Grab the dumbbells and hold them above you. Allow your upper arms to remain on the floor. Begin the movement by pushing the dumbbells over your chest. Pause at the top and squeeze your chest muscles.
3. Slowly bring the weights down to the starting position, allowing your arms to rest for a brief moment before beginning the next repetition.

1. Get into position by placing your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders.
2. Extend your legs out behind you, with only your toes and balls of your feet touching the floor.
3. Hold your body up and keep your back straight by tightening your abdominal muscles.
4. Your neck and head should be bent slightly back.
5. Lower your chest towards the ground by bending your elbows until your chest is just above the ground or you feel a stretching of your chest and shoulders. Hold for a count of one.
6. Press upwards from your chest and shoulders, straightening your arms as you return to the starting position. Hold for a count of one.
7. Repeat.

1. Lie flat on an exercise mat on the floor.
2. Extend your legs fully and place your hands palms down, flat on the floor beside you.
3. Keeping your feet together, draw your knees up towards your chest, until your thighs are at 90 degrees to the floor and your calves are parallel to it. This is the start position.
4. As you inhale, curl your hips up off the floor while bringing your knees further towards your chest.
5. Continue the movement until your knees are touching your chest, or as far as comfortable.
6. Hold for a count of one.
7. In a controlled movement, return your legs to the start position, exhaling as you do so.
8. Repeat.

• Lie on your back on a flat bench.
• Reach overhead and grab the top of the bench with both hands.
• Brace your abdominal muscles.
• Straighten your legs and lift them up. Stop when they are above parallel.
• Contract your abdominals as you bend your knees and bring your legs up and towards the top of the bench.
• Pause then slowly release your legs to the starting position, making sure to keep the contraction in your abdominals.

1. Lie on your back on a mat with hands under your lower buttocks on either side to support your pelvis.
2. Legs straight out in front of you, ankles together and feet slightly off the floor.
3. Keep your knees straight and raise your legs by flexing the hips until they are completely flexed.
4. Return to starting position.

1. Lie flat with hands under your buttocks.
2. Keep your knees together and pull them in towards you while moving your torso towards them (lift your head, neck and shoulders up).
3. Hold and then slowly return to starting position.

1. Lie on an exercise mat and place your feet your under something that will not move or ask a spotter hold them down for you. Keep your knees bent.
2. Raise your upper body from the mat to form V-shape with your thighs.
3. Keep your arms fully extended in front of your chest, clasping your hands together.This is the start position.
4. In a smooth motion, twist your upper body to the right until you feel a stretch in your back and sides. Keep your arms parallel to the floor and exhale as you do this. Hold for a count of one and inhale.
5. Return to the start position while breathing out.
6. Repeat the movement,this time to the left side of your body.
7. Repeat.

As your strength increases, you can hold a weight plate or medicine ball in front of you to increase resistance and engage other muscle groups.

1. Lie flat on an exercise mat on the floor keeping your lower back straight with no arching of your spine and with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
2. Place your hands lightly on the sides of your head.
3. Curl your torso upwards so your shoulders are slightly raised off the floor..
4. Raise your knees until your thighs are at a right angle to the floor and your calves are parallel to the floor. This is the start position.
5. Slowly move your legs in a pedaling action as if you are riding a bicycle.
6. As you do so, exhale and bring your opposing elbow close to each knee by crunching to one side. Left elbow to right knee. Right elbow to left knee.
7. After each crunch, return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
8. Without pausing, repeat the movement to the other side.
9. Repeat without pausing for the desired number of repetitions to each side.

Do not use your hands to pull your head and neck up during this exercise. Doing so may cause injury. Concentrate on a slow rhythmic cycle from side to side with perfect form for each repetition.

1. Lie on an exercise mat, with your back flat, knees bent and your feet flat on the floor slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
2. Fully extend your arms down the side of your body, palms facing in. This is the start position.
3. Exhaling, crunch your torso forward and to the right until you can touch your right heel with your right hand. Hold for a count of one.
4. Return to the starting position smooth motion, inhaling as you do so.
5. Repeat the movement, this time to your left side.
6. When you have completed the movement on both sides, you have done one repetition.
7. Repeat.

1. Lie face down on a mat, with your arms fully extended above your head and your legs fully extended behind you.
2. Lift your chest, arms and legs off the floor by arching your back. Only the tops of your quads and your lower abdomen should be in contact with the floor.
3. Hold for a count of 2 while squeezing your abdominals and obliques.
4. Return to the starting position for a count of one, then repeat.

This exercise can be done using one arm and it's opposite leg at a time. For example, right arm and left leg raised while your left arm and right leg remain on the floor. This method of execution allows you to use the free hand to push down on the floor to lift your chest higher from the ground.

1. Lie face down on a hyper extension bench with your upper thighs and lower hips on the support pad. You must be able to bend at the waist freely.
2. Lock your ankles under the footpads.
3. Start with your body in a straight line head to toe.
4. Place your arms across your chest, behind or at the side of your head.
5. Slowly bend forward by relacing your, back and abdominal muscles.
6. Continue as far as possible without rounding your back or raising your thighs from the support pad. You should feel a slight stretch in your hamstrings.Hold for a count of one.
7. Return to the start position by contracting your back and abdominal muscles until your body is once again straight. Do not arch your back up at the end of the movement. Pause and repeat.

As your strength and flexibility increase, you can hold a weight plate against your chest for extra resistance.

1. Lie prone on a swiss ball with your feet hip width apart. You can place your feet against a wall for better stability. Clasp your hands behind your head with elbows pointing out.
2. Engage your abs and raise your torso off the ball, hyperextending your spine.
3. Return your torso to the ball to the starting position.

1. Lie on an exercise mat, keeping your back flat with no arching of the spine.
2. Extend your arms out beside you at shoulder level, with your palms pressed firmly to the floor. Your upper body should form a “T” shape.
3. Raise your feet off the floor by bending your hips and knees to 90 degree angles. This is the start position.
4. As you exhale, rotate both your thighs to one side until the outer thigh touches the ground or until you feel a stretch in your abs and lower back.
5. Pause briefly, then rotate to the other side without pausing in the start position.
6. When you have rotated to both sides, that is one repetition.
7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

This exercise has 3 levels of difficulty: Beginner – with the knees and hip bent as described above; intermediate – feet up with knees at 90 degrees but the hips remaining in a neutral position; advanced –legs straight and hips bent at 90 degrees so your body forms an “L”.

1. Lie on your back on a mat with hands under your lower buttocks on either side to support your pelvis.
2. Legs straight out in front of you, ankles together and feet slightly off the floor.
3. Keep your knees straight and raise your legs by flexing the hips until they are completely flexed.
4. Return to starting position.

1. Sit on an exercise mat with your legs fully extended and your upper body upright.
2. Grip a weight plate between both hands.
3. Hold the plate out in front of your abdominals keeping your arms bent slightly.
4. Cross your your ankles and raise them off the floor slightly.
5. Bend your knees towards you slightly.
6. Lean back about 15 degrees to balance your body. This is the start position.
7. In a smooth motion,turn your torso to the left and touch the plate on the floor. Make sure you exhale as you do this.
8. Return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
9. Repeat the same movement, this time to your right side, again exhaling as you do so.
10. Return to start position and repeat.

When performing this exercise, use smooth controlled movements. Jerking or using momentum to swing the weight can cause serious lower back injury.

1. Lie flat on an exercise mat on the floor keeping your lower back straight with no arching of your spine and with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
2. Place your hands lightly on the sides of your head.
3. Curl your torso upwards so your shoulders are slightly raised off the floor..
4. Raise your knees until your thighs are at a right angle to the floor and your calves are parallel to the floor. This is the start position.
5. Slowly move your legs in a pedaling action as if you are riding a bicycle.
6. As you do so, exhale and bring your opposing elbow close to each knee by crunching to one side. Left elbow to right knee. Right elbow to left knee.
7. After each crunch, return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
8. Without pausing, repeat the movement to the other side.
9. Repeat without pausing for the desired number of repetitions to each side.

Do not use your hands to pull your head and neck up during this exercise. Doing so may cause injury. Concentrate on a slow rhythmic cycle from side to side with perfect form for each repetition.