Your cores primary job is to protect your spine, so its extra important to train those muscles.
What better way to accomplish that than with this quick 8-minute abs workout?
Your core is working all day long, whether you know it or not.
Katie Thompson
It helps in everyday tasks likecleaning, carrying something up the stairs, and even justwalking.
But strong core muscles can protect your spine.
And you dont have to spend a ton of time working them, either.
Your core is constantly working, whether itsisometrically(without movement) or in dynamic motion.
So tack this on to the end of another workout, or pencil it in after a brisk walk.
Ready to crush it?
The Workout
What youll need:Anexercise matfor extra cushioning.
If you want an extra challenge, add a dumbbell to the Russian twist.
Place your right arm behind your head, with your elbow bent and pointing up toward the ceiling.
This is the starting position.
Rotate your torso toward the floor, bringing your right elbow to meet your left hand.
Dont let your hips dropthe movement should just come from your core.
Reverse the movement to return to the starting position.
Continue for 40 seconds.
During the second round, perform the exercise on the opposite side.
The twist adds some trunk rotation to spice it up a little more.
Jump your feet out and in (like jumping jacks).
Continue for 40 seconds.
The jack motion is a cardio component, which will build some heat in the body.
Use your abs to curl your shoulders off the floor.
This is the starting position.
Engage your coreand slowly curl your hips off the floor, bringing your knees toward your chest.
Slowly lower your hips and legs back to starting position.
Hold your hands to your chest and lean your torso back until you feel your abdominal muscles engage.
For an extra challenge, add a dumbbell (as pictured).
Slowly twist your torso from right to left.
Remember to keep your core tight (and breathe!)
The Russian twist is an anti-rotation exercise, meaning your core fires to resist moving while your torso turns.
It trains your hips and spine to resist rotation and targets your internal and external obliques.
