Having good looking abs is constantly pounded home to us by the media and fitness people, and is probably the area of fitness that is the most concentrated on right now. Virtually everyone who works out with any type of regularity probably uses at least one technique that focuses solely on the abdominal area.
While the back is usually an afterthought when it comes to abs workouts, the lower back is also the beneficiary of most of these abs workouts. The same area that gets targeted at the front of our bodies is also being worked on in the back, making abs workouts a great way to also work on the lower back, increasing muscle strength, which helps ease the compression of the spine, helping you grow taller.
Let’s look at three such abs exercises which also do a great job of targeting the lower back as well.
1) Lower Ab Crunch - Perform while on your lying on your back, on a decline bench ideally, but a flat surface will also do fine. Keeping your body still, raise your legs slowly up so your knees are as near to your upper body as they can get. This is a tremendous workout for your abdominal region.
2) Lying Crunch - Also performed while lying on your back, though this time your legs need to be elevated slightly, by either resting them on a table or similar object. Holding your hands clasped behind you head, make a traditional sit-up move, pulling your body up as much as you can.
You’ll find that you can only rise about half the distance as you would be able to during a traditional sit-up, because of the positioning of your legs. This technique should be quickly repeated for several reps, giving your abs a full blown workout in short duration. You can also hold your glutes to increase the tension in your abs for an added effect.
3) Back Hyperextensions - Find a surface where you can lie down flat on your stomach, with most of your body body suspended over the edge. A hard surface is preferred, but a bed can also suffice if necessary. Now slowly lower your upper body down to the ground, then pull yourself back up again with no assistance from any other part of your body. Your abs and back will be the stars of this routine, and the workout they’ll receive from it is superb.
These abs workout can flatten your tummy and lengthen your spine in no time flat, giving you the confidence to both show off your stomach, and get out of those heightening shoes in one fell swoop.
Tags: Health
