Buddy Up for Core

Strengthen your core and have fun with your workout buddy with this dynamic exercise. The medicine ball pass will challenge your coordination, and your muscles. Grab a 2-4lb medicine ball or small stability ball. Stand back to back with your partner. Turn to your side and pass the ball to your partner. Continue passing the ball in one circular direction by rotating your torso for ten reps. Rest for 10-30 seconds, and then reverse the direction.

Buddy Up for Core

Plank with Side Step

Begin in a plank position. Keeping your upper body in one place, and stabilizing your core. Step your right foot to the side about six inches, pause for a few seconds, and then return to your starting position. Next, step your left foot the side about six inches, pause, and then return to your starting position. Repeat 10 times.

Plank… Plus!

Fit Body:

Creative Abs

Get creative with your ab exercises. Your abs and core work during all of your daily activities. Sometimes your core works to bend and twist. Other times, your core works to stabilize against movement by preventing bending and twisting of your torso. Your core is a multi-layered, multi-functional group of muscles.  Here’s how to get creative with your abs: Begin by choosing your base-move, for example a crunch or a plank. Once basic form is mastered, add a moving challenge. A moving challenging is moving an arm or leg in any pattern (forward/backward, side/center, up/down, in/out) to challenge core stability. Adding a creative touch into your ab workout will keep motivation high and results coming.

Creative Abs

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Donkey Kick Exercise for Core and Leg Strength

Build total leg and core strength with this floor exercise. Begin on your hands and knees. Keep your back aligned, torso stable and belly button up tight. Lock your shoulders down into your body. Lift your right leg up off the floor, and bend your knee. Push your heel up toward the ceiling about 6 inches, then lower. Do 10-15 reps, then release. Repeat lifting and lowering your left leg.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Core and Leg Strength in 1 Exercise

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Power Up your Pushups!

Think of pushups as a moving Plank exercise. This exercise is as much about your core, as it is your upper body muscles. Keep your abs tight and body straight. Pull your shoulders down into your body and tuck your chin in. If you’re up for a challenge: Only push up half-way. Pause for one or two seconds, then immediately lower your body down into the next rep. For even more muscle work, do one set to fatigue (in good form) at the end of your workout.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Power Up your Pushups

Planks… Plus!

Take your planks up a level by adding in 2 additional moves:

Begin in a plank, on your toes and hands. Keep your body straight. Next, lift up your right leg, bend your knee and pull your knee up toward your chest. Straighten your knee to complete 1 rep. Do 10 reps, then release. Repeat with your left knee. Do 10 reps.

Begin in a plank, on your toes and hands. Lift your right leg up off the floor about 6 inches. Keeping your knee straight, slide your leg out to the side about 10-12 inches, then return to the center to complete 1 rep. Do 10 times, then release. Repeat with your left leg. Do 10 reps.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Take Your Planks Up a Level

 Ab Tuck 

To build core strength implement this ab exercise into your routine. Begin seated on the floor. Lean back slightly and lift both legs up off the floor, then extend your knees. Hold both arms straight out in front of you to stay balanced. Next lift your torso, and bend both knees pulling them in toward your chest. This completes 1 rep. Start with 10 reps.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Strengthen Your Core

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Leg Raises for Total Core Strength.

Lie on your back. Place your arms wherever most comfortable to help maintaining neutral pelvis. Lift your right leg up off the floor about 2 feet, maintaining core stability, slowly lower your right about twelve inches. Immediately lift your left leg and slowly lower. Repeat leg raises 10 times total. This exercise is for intermediate exercisers, without injury concerns.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Total Core Strength

Quality Crunches!

Do a quality-control check of your form while doing crunches.

Begin on the floor on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place your hands behind your head, with your elbows wide. Lift your chin off your chest. Slowly lift your shoulders up off the floor sliding your ribs toward your hips. You should feel the ab muscles engage. Exhale, and lift up 1-2 inches higher, that’s it. Pause at the top of your range of motion.  Inhale, and slowly lower your shoulders to your starting point, not all the way to the floor. Pause at your starting point. Start with 10 reps.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Quality-Control your Crunches

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Bridge for multi-benefits!

Do this exercise to strengthen your core, and lower body.

Here’s how to begin: Lie on your back. Place both arms straight along side your body, flat on the floor. Maintain your neutral pelvis position, then gently lift your hips up off the floor. Hold for 10 seconds, then release. Build to 10 reps.

*Consult your physician before beginning exercise.

Do this strength exercise…