It is important that you include standing abdominal exercises as part of your workout routine. These exercises can mimic movements you perform in your daily activities. They can also help to strengthen your core muscles, which can improve your balance and support your spine. You need to perform the exercises diligently in order to reap any results.
Wood Chops
Wood chops can be done using either a medicine ball, cable system or hand weights. It depends upon your preference. The exercise itself resembles the movement of baling hay, says amazingabdominals.com. Start by standing with your feet shoulder width apart. Tighten your abdominal muscles. With both hands, hold onto a medicine ball. Slowly raise the ball over one of your shoulders. Hold for a few seconds. Slowly bring the ball back down to the opposite side of your body. This will resemble a swinging motion. Repeat this maneuver ten times. To increase the intensity and difficulty of this exercise, you can move your feet closer together. You can also do this exercise with a can of soup, a weight plate or a filled gallon jug. Wood chops help strengthen your obliques, your back and core muscles. They can help support your spine.
Curl Squats
Even if you are not a bodybuilder, one of the best standing abdominal exercises you can do is a squat. According to Mike Geary of amazingabdominals.com, start out using just the bar of your weightlifting set. As you become more comfortable, you can add weights.
Begin by holding the bar in front of your chest area. Do not let your elbows push against your midsection. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Tighten your abdominal muscles to help stabilize your core. You will feel the tension of this exercise in your abdominals, not your shoulders. To keep the barbell pole from falling forward, all of your core muscles will need to contract. Inhale as you start the exercise. Slowly begin to squat down as far as possible. Hold for five seconds when you have reached the bottom position. Hold your breath until you're about halfway back up. Slowly return to the standing position. Repeat five times. Do not lean forward or slouch during this exercise.
Side Bends
You can strengthen your obliques by doing side bends, according to ab-core-and-stomach-exercises.com. Stand straight, with your legs shoulder width apart. Grab a 2-pound weight with one hand. Raise your opposite hand and place it behind your head. Slowly and gently lower the dumbbell while leaning straight sideways. You will feel a stretch in your muscles on the side opposite the hand that holding your dumbbell. Hold this stretch for five seconds. Slowly return to the upright position. Repeat this maneuver five times for each side.
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