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The Abs... More Important Than You Think
What comes to your mind when I say the word "abs"? Do you think of the infomercials advertising "6 second abs" or the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue? Most people focus on training their abs to look thinner or sexier. But, do you realize the importance of your abs in everyday activities? Most yoga instructors do. And that's why one of the focuses of yoga is to build your core abdominal strength. Important for posture Your abs attach to your spine and pelvis, helping balance your back in good posture. Often times, when your back is not supported in the correct posture by your abdominals and back muscles, back pain occurs. Did you know that back pain accounts for approximately 50 billion dollars in health care costs each year. This is not something to be taken lightly -- so remember -- one of the best ways to prevent back pain is to strengthen your abs. It often takes a conscious effort to sit in good posture. But, even if you get into a good sitting posture, you will need the abdominal and back endurance to maintain it! How are you sitting at your computer right now? I would bet most of you are sitting in a slumped posture?.some more than others. To sit in good posture, you should have a slight inward curve in your back with your ears directly over your shoulders. One way to strengthen your abs while working on your computer is to use an exercise ball as your chair. Yes, you heard me right! In fact, I am sitting on my exercise ball as I write this article. Important for balance Without abdominal strength, you will have difficulty sitting, standing and walking. Your center of gravity is located at your sacrum or roughly just below your belly button. Therefore, your abs play an important part in keeping you balanced at your center of gravity. Think about someone who is a quadriplegic or paralyzed from the neck down. They are not able to sit by themselves because their back and abdominal muscles are paralyzed. In other words, they are no longer able to balance themselves. In contrast, a paraplegic, someone paralyzed from the waist down, is able to balance and sit by themselves because only their legs are paralyzed leaving their abdominal and back muscles intact. This proves that our abdominals are important for our balance. If you are now sitting on your exercise ball, you can practice some balance exercises and strengthen your abs simply by rolling your hips forward, backward and side to side. Make sure to pull your stomach inward during these motions. Exercise your abs Now that you know the importance of your abs, you need to integrate abdominal strengthening into your regular strength training. Abs should be trained like any other muscle - 8 to 12 repetitions, 3 times per week. I have several suggestions for where you can start. 1. The Two Best Abs Exercises: http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/best-ab-exercises.html
2. Lower Abdominal Exercises: http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/lower-abdominal-exercises.html
3. Abdominal Ball Exercises: http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/abdominal-ball-exercises.html Remember the abs! They are more important that you think! Written by Shelley Hitz, Licensed Physical Therapist and Certified NASM Personal Trainer.
Sign up for her free Exercise Advice journal at http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/journal.html or read more of her articles at http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com. Get your free unbelievable abs ball workout here!
MORE RESOURCES:
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Quit smoking, exercise regularly to stay away from cancerTimes of IndiaOne in three cancer deaths can be prevented through changing lifestyle habits, such as eating healthily, exercising regularly, not smoking and reducing alcohol consumption. It is pertinent to mention that World Cancer Day observed on February 4 is the ...and more » |
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UConn men: Exercise in futilityJournal InquirerBy Neill Ostrout WASHINGTON — When the University of Connecticut was finishing laying bricks Wednesday night, its season had hit rock bottom. At least, the Huskies hope it can't get any worse than this. UConn suffered its fourth straight defeat ...and more » |
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Can Exercise Be Addicting?Huffington PostBy Laura Schwecherl Think not getting enough exercise is the only problem Americans face? People who exercise too much may be troubled as well. When time is stripped from work, family, and friends to excessively exercise, addiction may be to blame. |
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Exercise ideas: Getting fit like a footballerBoston.com (blog)With the Super Bowl coming up, I became curious about football exercises. What do the players do to keep in shape? When they are not on the field practicing, what types of moves do the Pats and Giants do? Since I've been looking for different things to ... |
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