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The Top 10 Best Abs Exercises

Abs are probably the sexiest muscles for a lot of people looking to improve their fitness and strength. Home to the ‘six-pack’, the abdominals are the area that everyone wants to work on! Before taking a look at our Top 10 best abs exercises bear in mind that you won’t get the perfect six-pack by just following these guidelines - you still need to work to reduce your body fat with a healthy diet and to make sure that your whole body is lean and streamlined.

1. Full V-Ups
Lie flat on the floor keeping your legs about shoulder width apart. Put your hands over your head and raise your upper body and lower body until you are sitting up in a ‘v’ shape. Grab on behind the knees for a quick second to steady yourself and return to the floor, all the while keeping the ribcage closed and the navel pulled toward the spine. Your legs can be bent if need be, or you can straighten them.

2. Exercise Ball Crunches
Lie on the ball with your feet on the floor and your head raised - the ball should be sitting in the middle of your back. Put your hands behind your head and lift your body off the ball making sure to contract your abs as you raise yourself up.

3. Reverse Ball Crunches
Lie on your back with your exercise ball under the knees. When comfortable contract your abs and raise your hips up from the floor.

4. Straight Leg Lifts
Lie flat on your back with your hands under your buttocks - your knees should be slightly bent. Lift your head and shoulders, bring your legs up until your heels are about to leave the floor - your back should stay on the floor.

5. Hanging Leg Lifts
You’ll need a High Chair for this exercise so it may be best done at the gym. Take hold of the handles and rest your back against the rest. Your legs should be hanging comfortably and you should feel balanced. Lift your knees until they are at around a 90 degree angle to your body and then lower them.

6. Barbell Roll
Place a barbell on the floor and kneel down on your hands and knees. Place the barbell in front of you with hands about shoulder width apart. Roll forwards making sure not to arch the back….pull the navel upward and roll back to the starting position.

7. Alternating Straight Leg Bicycles
Lie flat on your back with your hands to your forehead and your elbows pointing forward. Keeping the legs straight raise a knee towards your chest and touch it with the opposite elbow while keeping your ribcage down and the navel pulled toward the floor. Repeat with the other leg/elbow.

8. Rubber Band Crunches
Lie flat on the floor with your arms stretched out above your head. Grab the end of a rubber band, bend the elbows and lift your head and shoulders off the floor.

9. Decline Bench Crunches
Lie on a bench with your head lower than your hips. Raise your upper body as high as possible. When returning, do not lie all the way down, keep the ribs closed and the navel pulled toward the spine.

10. Decline Twist Curl
Lie on your back on a decline bench with your feet/knees securely positioned. Cross your arms over your chest and rotate your torso as you lift the upper body. Repeat on the other side.

Remember to be careful trying out new exercises - if you are unsure about the right abs exercises for you then an a personal trainer in nyc will be able to give you the best advice. :)