Pilates is a philosophy of fitness that was developed by fitness guru Joseph Pilates. Although it is often confused with yoga, Pilates is a different style of strength training, focusing on perfect form, connectivity between body and fitness, and slower, fewer repetitions. It's what makes Pilates so ideal for a good abdominal muscle workout. It targets the ab muscles and challenges them by incorporating slow movements that tighten and tone the belly. Use Pilates ab exercises in your daily workout for a fitter core.
Step 1
Complete an ab-blasting roll up. Sit with your spine in neutral position, legs out straight in front of you, and hands placed gently on your legs. Take a deep breath and roll slowly back, down towards the floor. Focus on each vertebra and how the vertebrae release as you roll down, until you are laying flat. Concentrate on your form and don't let your legs move. From the floor position, slowly roll back up to a sitting position. Complete three roll ups per set.
Step 2
Do the famous Pilates move, The Hundred. Sit with your spine in neutral position, legs out in front of you. Roll back until you are on your back, and bring your knees to up and over your chest, so that you legs are in the air. Raise your head and neck slightly, and put your arms by your sides. Pulse your arms up and down 100 times, quickly. While pulsing, concentrate on your breathing, inhaling and exhaling every five to six pulses and keeping good form.
Step 3
Lose your love handles by completing a set of plies with with side lifts, as recommended by "Fitness Magazine." Stand straight, spine in neutral position. Your feet should be slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, and you should feel comfortable. Turn out your feet and bend down to complete a ballet plie. Turn your knees outward and dip down as far as you can go. Raise up, lifting one of your legs to the side and holding for three seconds. Repeat, but lift the other leg. Complete five on each side, concentrating on form and balance.
Step 4
Stand and do your ab workout so that you don't have to get down on the floor to do crunches. Stand with neutral spine, legs shoulder-width apart. Step your right food out and down into a lunge, holding for three seconds. When you bring your leg out of the lunge, pull it up across your body and bring your left elbow down to meet it, crossing your body. Repeat on the other side and complete five repetitions each side per set for a firmer core without getting on the floor.
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