Calming Ab Exercises

Tense muscles cannot become strong muscles -- so exercises that promote relaxation actually help you build abdominal strength. There are yoga and breathing exercises you can do that are calming and strengthening. These exercises might not give you rock hard abs or a washboard stomach but they do improve stabilization, tone and posture.

Upper Abs

The seated forward bend pose strengthens the upper portion of the rectus abdominus through spinal flexion. The rectus abdominus is the long, vertical muscle of the abdomen that gives the abs defintion for a six-pack. Spinal flexion is bending the spine forward, as you do for yoga forward bend poses. To perform the easy seated forward bend, sit on a folded blanket with your legs straight together on the floor. Squeeze your abs and bend forward from the hip joints to get your chest as close to your thighs as you are able. The seated forward calms the brain, aides in stress reduction and is therapeutic for high blood pressure.

Lower Abs

You can strengthen the lower portion of the rectus abdominus muscle with yoga exercises too. Poses like the urdhva prasarita padasana pose strengthens the lower abs through raising the legs. The abs work to keep the pelvis stable during the movement. To perform the urdhva prasarita padasana exercise, lie on the floor with your right leg straight and left knee bent with the foot on the floor. Then, lift the right leg toward the ceiling. Raising one leg at a time strengthens the abs but doesn't stress the abs as much as raising both legs, which is a variation of the exercise. This pose not only strengthens the abs but also massages the internal organs. Lying on the floor supports your back, making this exercise a restorative and supportive pose. Relax into the floor as you do this exercise.

Obliques

A strong abdomen is not just about working the rectus abdominus. The obliques are the abdominal muscles next to the rectus abdominus. Twisting exercises strengthen these muscles. The seated spinal twist strengthens the abs and obliques as well as stretching the shoulders, back and hips to release tension and increase circulation. To perform this exercise, sit with your right leg bent resting sideways on the floor and your left leg crossed over the right with the foot on the floor next to the right thigh. Put your left hand on the floor behind you with your arm straight. Twist your shoulders to the left and rest your right arm against the outside of your left leg. Repeat in the opposite direction.

Transverse Abdominus

The transverse abdominus muscle is like a corset of muscular tissue that wraps around the front of your abdomen. This muscle is closest to your internal organs and spine. The best way to strengthen this muscle is with breathing exercises. There are many benefits to deep breathing, including relaxation. A breathing exercise you can do for the transverse abdominus is the upward abdominal lock. To do this exercise, bend forward slightly and place your hands on your quads with your feet shoulder-width apart. Take a deep breath in through your nose and feel your abdomen expand. Then, breathe out fully and once the air is completely gone count aloud starting at one. The counting causes the transverse abdominus to contract. Relax the abs when you need to breathe, which automatically causes the belly to fill with air again.