TRX Ab Exercises

Your abdominal muscles work with your hip and other body parts as a stabilizer to keep your body in balance and alignment, and to produce force and absorb shock, according to Vern Gambetta, author of "Athletic Development." TRX training, which uses a nonelastic suspension cable, helps train abdominal stabilization while moving your body in different directions.

Pushups

Your abs stabilize your torso and spine as you maintain arm distance on the handles of the TRX when doing pushups. Grab the handles of the TRX with each hand and place your feet together on the ground on your toes. Keep your arms straight, your buttocks tight and your head in alignment with your spine, hip and legs. Lower your body until your shoulder blades pull together and your chest stretches slightly. Exhale and push yourself up without moving your spine. Perform three sets of 10 to 12 reps.

Pullups

Like pushups, pullups also force your abs to stabilize the spine and hips as you pull your body closer to the handles of the TRX. Grab a handle with each hand and hang beneath the TRX with your arms straight. Keep your feet together with your heels in contact with the ground. Tighten your buttocks, exhale and pull yourself up until your shoulder blades pull together. Lower your body until your arms are fully extended. Perform three sets of 10 to 12 reps.

The Pistol

The pistol is a one-leg deep squat with your raised leg extended in front of you. Use the TRX to counterbalance your body weight. Grab the handles and face the hook of the TRX. Stand on your right foot with your left leg extended in front of you. Squat slowly while keeping your torso upright and your heel on the ground. Flex your left foot toward as you squat. Exhale and stand without moving your spine or pulling hard on the TRX. Perform three sets of five to eight reps per leg.

Expert Insight

Instead of performing each exercise individually, do all three consecutively without rest between sets. This method, called circuit training, saves you time, improves muscular stamina and endurance, and burns more calories, says Gambetta. When you have completed one circuit, rest for one minute and repeat the circuit two to three times.