A flat stomach and toned muscles aren't the only benefits of a great core workout. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercising your core regularly can help improve balance, stability and posture. Adding a few core exercises to your normal workout routine will improve your health without the need for any special equipment.
Crunch
Crunches target your rectus abdominis and help eliminate excess belly fat. CNN recommends choosing ab exercises that work a number of core muscles simultaneously, and the crunch fits the bill because it exercises both the abs and the obliques.
To do a crunch, lie flat on your back with your legs in the air, your knees bent 90 degrees and your feet against a wall. It's important to support your spine by placing your hands at the base of your neck or crossed over your chest. When you breathe out, raise your head and shoulders off the floor, focusing on generating the movement from your abdominals. Finally, hold the move for a few seconds and return to the starting position. Repeat the exercise as many times as you comfortably can.
Plank
A solid plank will strengthen your core as well as flatten your stomach. CNN notes that when you're starting out, it's important to value quality over quantity and pick exercises that let you focus on technique and form rather than reps. As a timed exercise, the plank is a fitting choice.
To do the plank, lie flat on your stomach and position your elbows directly under your shoulders. Join your hands on the floor and use them to form the point of a triangle with the other two points at your elbows. When you breathe out, lift your torso and contract your core muscles until you are supporting your whole body in a straight line with just your forearms and toes. While holding the move, focus on pulling your belly button toward your spine. Hold for as long as you comfortably can, working up to longer periods of time. For a less intense variation, drop your knees.
Abdominal Hollowing
The Mayo Clinic recommends abdominal hollowing, or drawing in your belly button, as a simple core exercise that can help flatten abs and build stability. To do it, position yourself on all fours with your hands directly under your shoulders and your knees directly under your waist. As you breathe in, your stomach should hang out and down. When you breathe out, draw your belly button in and up toward your spine while your ab muscles tighten and contract. Make sure not to round or drop your spine. With abdominal hollowing, proper form is important, so stop repeating the move when it becomes difficult to hold good form.
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