Your abs, a set collectively known as the core, include the many interconnected muscles that run up the back and stretch down to the butt and the front and inner thighs. So it's silly to only work them with situps or crunches, which, frankly just don't seem to work. Luckily Aimee O'Sullivan, a personal trainer at Crunch West 23rd Street in NYC, came up with this abs workout circuit to give our abs a new challenge—just in time for summer!
DIRECTIONS
Complete the prescribed number of reps for each exercise while maintaining proper form. Rest 1-2 minutes in between circuits. Complete a total of three circuits.
Windmills
Start out with your feet wider than hips width apart and holding the dumb bell in your right hand, raise your arm. Point both your feet at a 45 degree angle away from your raised arm. Push your butt back in the direction of your raised arm, keeping your back straight lower your upper body toward the ground. Do 8 on each side!
Hanging Knee Raises
Start out hanging from the pull up bars, with your arms slightly bent keeping your back straight, legs hanging straight down. Slowly raise your knees toward your chest while keeping abs tight and your back as straight as possible. Aim to do 8 repetitions slowly and controlled. If you feel like you are slipping from the bar, squeeze your thumb over your fingers to increase grip strength!
Pallof Press
Start out facing at a 90 degree angle away from the machine with your legs slightly bent and wider than hips width apart, holding the cable at chest height. Step away from the cable pulley and bring your arms out straight in front of you and slowly bring them back to your chest. The goal is to keep your body from rotating toward the cable pulley. Do each side 8 times.
Bosu Mountain Climbers
Start off in a push up position with your hands on the flat side of the bosu, the ball on the ground. Keep your shoulders above your wrists and with a straight cmcback bring one knee in as far as you can toward your chest and return it back to starting position, alternate legs. Do this 8 times. If you are at home, skip the bosu and do this with your hands on the floor! For a more advanced move, try to bring your knee to the opposite shoulder or elbow.
Scissor Kicks
Lie down with your back pressed against the floor and your palms facing down. With straight legs, lift your legs about 6 inches off the ground and continuously crossing your legs back and forth bring them up to 90 degrees and back down again, repeat 8 times. Reach through your heels to keep your legs straight.
