Our umbrella page on exercises for women basically states that there is no real reason to distinguish men’s & women’s exercise. However, women especially need to keep the core of their body toned and flexible to make pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery easier.
And so we focus on abs exercise for women because of the particular role women have in procreation.
The following movements should be performed for between 1 - 3 sets, 5 - 25 reps.
Try to increase intensity by increasing sets, reps or decreasing rest periods between sets.
Start at level that is comfortable. Work on perfecting controlled movements even if that means you need to cut back on reps.
1) 45 Degree Scissors (This abdominal exercise for women is especially good for low, side ab muscles)
a. Lie on exercise mat with your arms extended beside you.
b. Fold your knees right above your hips and extend both legs straight up.
c. Tighten your abdominal muscles as you slowly lower legs to a 45-degree angle. This is your starting position.
d. Maintain the tightness in your abdominal muscles continuously as you slowly lower one leg towards the floor.
e. Bring that leg back to the starting position and repeat the movement with the opposite leg. That counts as one repetition.
2) Abdominal Crunch with Side Bend (This abs exercise for women is especially good for mid-side ab muscles)
a. Lie on your back with your feet and knees together and hands behind your head.
b. Curl your torso upward then bend sideways to the right and to the left in a continuous manner.
3) Bent Double Leg Raise and Lower (This abdominal exercise for women is especially good for lower, middle ab muscles)
a. Lie on your back with legs bent and raised over your hips.
b. Tighten your abdominal muscles constantly as you lower both legs.
c. Touch the mat lightly with your toes, then raise the legs to starting position.
4) The Boat Pose (This abs exercise for women develops balance muscles)
This is a good yoga-based exercise which strengthens the abdominal and lower back muscles and also works the quadricep muscles in the front of the thighs.
a. Sit with knees bent, legs together, feet flat on the mat, and your hands beside knees with you palms turned inward.
b. Tighten your abdominal muscles and lean backwards gradually as you lift your feet off the mat. Your arms should straighten out in front of you.
c. Keep your back straight as you try to balance on your butt.
d. Keep breathing smoothly as you hold the pose for eight to ten seconds.
e. Finally, slowly bring your feet down towards the floor.
5) The Basic Abdominal Crunch (This abdominal exercise for women is especially good for the central and upper ab muscles)
This is the classic abdominal exercise. It strengthens the straight muscle, or the “rectus abdominis“ & the diagonal muscle or the “internal obliques.“
a. Keep feet approximately 18 inches away from your buttocks.
b. Position both hands behind your head.
c. Begin the movement by contracting your abdominal muscles to squeeze the ribcage and the pelvis closer to each other.
d. Your head, neck, and shoulders should automatically come up off the floor.
e. Finally, slowly lower to an inch off the mat.
6) Side Oblique Leg Lift with, or without, Medicine Ball (This abs exercise for women develops the side muscles & side back muscles)
It strengthens the oblique muscles that crisscross the abdominal wall as well as the hips and inner thigh muscles.
Using a medicine ball makes the movement more challenging. However, you may simply press your legs together instead of using a medicine ball.
a. Lie on your side with your legs together in alignment with your hips and shoulders. The ball can be positioned between your thighs for an easier challenge, or your ankles for a harder challenge.
b. Rest your head on your right arm & put your left hand in front of your chest on the mat with your palm flat and your fingertips facing your head.
c. Tighten and contract abdominal muscles before you beginning the exercise.
d. On exhale, lift both legs off the floor. On inhale, lower your legs.
A word of caution. When strengthening ab muscles you must also work on strengthening back muscles and stretching all muscles to gain maximum benefits and to avoid injuries from muscle imbalances.
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