The muscles of the stomach are important for balance, posture and daily activities. Although a six-pack may be your motivation for doing abdominal exercises, you'll likely experience benefits such as improved balance before you see the results on your stomach. Not all ab exercises work best for everyone so try some that work your core in different ways to find what works best for you.
Pike and Extend
The pike and extend exercise contributes to a flat stomach through targeted ab training. It works your abs, arms, glutes and legs for a full-body core exercise. To perform the exercise, lie on your back with your arms and legs extended. Your arms are above your head. Then, lift your legs toward the ceiling and also raise your arms, head and shoulders as you reach toward your feet. Next, lower your upper body back to the floor and lower your right leg down too. Repeat by raising your body off the floor and then lowering your upper body and left leg together. You alternate the legs that you drop on each repetition.
The Sprinter
The sprinter is a running inspired ab exercise that is done on the floor. It works all the muscles of the abs including the upper, lower and side abs. The sprinter has you alternating arm and leg movements so it improves coordination too. Begin lying on your back with your heels about six inches from the floor. The legs are straight and squeezed together with the feet flexed. The arms are straight at your sides with your palms facing inward. The first movement is a sit up, except as you sit up you will bend both your elbows and raise your right arm at your side like a sprinter. Once you are sitting up fully, bend your left leg and pull it toward you. Reverse the movement to return to the starting position. Sit up again, but raise your left arm and pull your right knee toward your chest.
Twisting Windmill
The twisting windmill targets the obliques, which are the ab muscles on the sides of your stomach. The obliques are worked through torso rotation and stabilization. The twisting windmill is done lying on your back with your arms on the floor at shoulder height. The legs are squeezed together and lifted toward the ceiling. Flex your feet and squeeze your abs. Then, lower your legs toward the floor on your right side. Aim to touch the outside of your right foot to the floor above hip level so your toes are about six inches from your hand. Both shoulders will stay on the floor, but your hips will rotate to the right as well, causing your left buttocks to roll off the floor. Bring your legs back up to center and then lower them to the left to complete one rep.
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