How to do Exercise Ball Side Crunches

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXV9NFwhho4[/youtube]

Exercise balls are a good way to add both fun and intensity to your abdominal exercises. And to focus mainly in working out your obliques, your usual side crunches can be done on these balls through exercise ball side crunches. Adding the ball also adds stability training as you perform these exercises.

Moreover, because of the balance you need to do, you also work your core muscles to support you. This in turn, improves overall posture and helps reduce back pain.

Do not just settle for any exercise ball. Choose one that matches your height and fits your exercise requirement. Smaller exercise balls allow you with more flexibility to do a wider range of motions and add to the challenge of trying to balance yourself. Likewise, choose a more suitable surface where the ball will not easily roll from under. So do you also need to consider the amount of air inside the ball for maximum efficiency.

Exercise ball side crunches are a good addition to your six pack abs exercises because of the ways they work out the muscles that lie beneath your love handles.

To see how exercise ball side crunches should be done, check out the instructional video provided.

Instructions

Preparation

  1. Place the exercise ball on the floor and lie on top of it, face down.
  2. Slowly roll the ball sideways until one whole side of your torso is resting on top of the ball.
  3. Put one leg in front of you and the other behind to keep yourself balanced.
  4. Fold your elbows and place your hands on each side of your face, lightly touching your fingers to the sides of your head.

Execution

Lift your torso toward the direction of the ceiling as far as you can using your abdominal muscles.

Return

Go back down to your original position and relax your ab muscles.

Repeat
 
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