You’d be hard-pressed to find a yoga class without at least a few downward facing dog, and upward-facing dog poses, and that’s for a good reason. Appropriately done, foundational poses help fire up your whole kinetic chain, making them ideal bodyweight exercises. But if you’re looking to spice up your foundational poses, throw in a […]
The benefits of having a strong core go beyond posting hot mirror selfies of your washboard abs on Instagram (though that is a plus). Building a strong core can help improve balance and stability, alleviate back pain, give you better posture, and make everyday tasks easier. If you’ve ever had really sore abs after a […]
An exercise with a name like “switch kicks” probably makes you think that the focus is on the legs and butt. And although the switch kick will fire up every muscle from your hips down to your toes, it also strengthens your core, explains Rebekah Miller, MS, CSCS, NASM-CPT. “In the switch kick movement, the lower body is being targeted, as […]
The double leg lift is a classic Pilates exercise. And like most (if not all) Pilates exercises, it can help you build massive abdominal strength, getting you closer and closer toward sculpting an enviable taught midsection. But the double leg lift does more than tighten and define your abs — it teaches you valuable skills […]
Some fitness trends burn hot for a while and then go cold, which is why it’s helpful to focus on foundational, tried-and-true exercises that give you reliable fitness results. The forearm plank is one that will always have a place because it targets many muscle groups at once and offers tons of fun variations. “The […]
If you want a strong, healthy core, cranking through a few sets of sit-ups isn’t gonna cut it. You need to incorporate a variety of sit-up alternatives into your fitness routine. It’s not that the traditional sit-up is bad, explains Mary Beth Rockwell, C.P.T., C.E.S. “Sit-ups primarily target just the rectus abdominis (the ‘six-pack’ area) and short-change […]
Climbing is one of the most challenging, all-over strengthening exercises you can do. But you don’t need to defy gravity to work your entire body at once. That’s the idea behind the mountain climbers exercise. Performed from a high-plank position, mountain climbers build strength and stability through the core, shoulders, triceps, quads, and even glutes. […]