The Abs... More Important Than You Think
What comes to your mind when I say the word "abs"? Do you think of the infomercials advertising "6 second abs" or the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue? Most people focus on training their abs to look thinner or sexier. But, do you realize the importance of your abs in everyday activities? Most yoga instructors do. And that's why one of the focuses of yoga is to build your core abdominal strength.
Important for posture
Your abs attach to your spine and pelvis, helping balance your back in good posture. Often times, when your back is not supported in the correct posture by your abdominals and back muscles, back pain occurs. Did you know that back pain accounts for approximately 50 billion dollars in health care costs each year. This is not something to be taken lightly -- so remember -- one of the best ways to prevent back pain is to strengthen your abs.
It often takes a conscious effort to sit in good posture. But, even if you get into a good sitting posture, you will need the abdominal and back endurance to maintain it! How are you sitting at your computer right now? I would bet most of you are sitting in a slumped posture?.some more than others. To sit in good posture, you should have a slight inward curve in your back with your ears directly over your shoulders.
One way to strengthen your abs while working on your computer is to use an exercise ball as your chair. Yes, you heard me right! In fact, I am sitting on my exercise ball as I write this article.
Important for balance
Without abdominal strength, you will have difficulty sitting, standing and walking. Your center of gravity is located at your sacrum or roughly just below your belly button. Therefore, your abs play an important part in keeping you balanced at your center of gravity.
Think about someone who is a quadriplegic or paralyzed from the neck down. They are not able to sit by themselves because their back and abdominal muscles are paralyzed. In other words, they are no longer able to balance themselves. In contrast, a paraplegic, someone paralyzed from the waist down, is able to balance and sit by themselves because only their legs are paralyzed leaving their abdominal and back muscles intact. This proves that our abdominals are important for our balance.
If you are now sitting on your exercise ball, you can practice some balance exercises and strengthen your abs simply by rolling your hips forward, backward and side to side. Make sure to pull your stomach inward during these motions.
Exercise your abs
Now that you know the importance of your abs, you need to integrate abdominal strengthening into your regular strength training. Abs should be trained like any other muscle ? 8 to 12 repetitions, 3 times per week.
I have several suggestions for where you can start.
1. The Two Best Abs Exercises: http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/
best-ab-exercises.html
2. Lower Abdominal Exercises: http://www.abs-exercise-adv
ice.com/lower-abdominal-exercises.html
3. Abdominal Ball Exercises: http://www.abs-exercise-advi
ce.com/abdominal-ball-exercises.html
Remember the abs! They are more important that you think!
Written by Shelley Hitz, Licensed Physical Therapist and Certified NASM Personal Trainer.
Sign up for her free Exercise Advice journal at http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com/journal.ht
ml or read more of her articles at http://www.abs-exercise-advice.com. Get your free unbelievable abs ball workout here!
 Google News Updated : Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:55:50 GMT Obama Campaign Criticizes Rival McCain's Economic Proposals - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Alison Vekshin July 6 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's advisers criticized Republican rival John McCain's economic proposals as both candidates prepared to focus on the US economy this week. Obama Advisers Tout Tax Plan That topic we love to hate Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:27:55 GMT 'Hancock' a signature opening for Smith - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - The offbeat superhero story brings in $66 million over the holiday weekend, marking the star's eighth straight No. 1. He's hot, but the reviews were not. ‘Hancock’ Powers to the Top of Box Office Will Smith is box office superhero with 'Hancock' Publ.Date : Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:03:03 GMT Weather Channel Is Sold to NBC and Equity Firms - New York Times New York Times - By MICHAEL J. de la MERCED An investor group led by NBC Universal and two private equity firms clinched a deal for the Weather Channel on Sunday after three weeks of negotiations. NBC Universal, Bain, Blackstone Buy Weather Channel (Update1) NBC and its Partners Announce Deal To Buy Weather Channel and Assets Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:48:12 GMT AT&T's Odd iPhone Offer - TechNewsWorld
TechNewsWorld - By Eric Benderoff Some of the details surrounding AT&T's iPhone prices make little sense, writes Eric Benderoff. The company will sell a 3G iPhone with no contract for a $400 premium. iPhone 3G line forms in NYC for a green cause New iPhone Can Decouple From AT&T, for a Price Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:04:21 GMT Google, Zen Master of the Market - New York Times
New York Times - By STEVE LOHR Bill Gates, who walked away from full-time work at Microsoft last month, was perhaps the foremost applied economist of the second half of the 20th century. Why Microsoft will win Yahoo Yahoo! re-enters merger talks with Time Warner Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:57:50 GMT Bosox, Cubs each put 7 players on All-Star rosters - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - NEW YORK (AP) - Maybe Manny Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and the rest of the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs should just play their own All-Star game. All-Star rosters revealed Cubs win 7-1 and seven All-Stars; I'd say it was a good day Publ.Date : Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:58 GMT Obama cites faith as key to change - Boston Globe Boston Globe - Barack Obama called "active faith" an obligation of religious Americans and a chief agent of societal change in a speech yesterday at the national meeting of a black church group. Veterans Group Urges Support to 'Finish the Job' Veterans’ Group Critical of Obama Plans Costly Ad Campaign Publ.Date : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:58:31 GMT Web Site Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Diet and Exercise are the inseparable twins that are seen... Read More If you lead an active lifestyle and you want to... Read More A valid connection between hypoglycemia, fatigue and premature termination of... Read More So you want to lose weight? Chances are, you'll spend... Read More My name is Greg Ryan. I am a fitness expert,... Read More For years exercise scientists and physiologists have preached that lactate/lactic... Read More 1) He or she is never late for a workout... Read More Sometimes following a fitness program or workout schedule is not... Read More Building those impressively sleek shoulders takes a great deal of... Read More A recent study found that home workouts may do even... Read More In fitness, as in war, you want to be on... Read More Lately, I've been receiving a lot of questions referring to... Read More This is going to be kinda short and sweet. .... Read More I think the real question is "How safe is it... Read More The benefits of physical activity are numerous and very well... Read More Author, H. Besser, in his book, "Perseverance: How To Develop... Read More How do you know that the exercises you are performing... Read More Hundreds of Thousands of Americans spend millions of dollars each... Read More A Japanese study found that if you exercise at night... Read More It's a given that effective weight loss is much more... Read More Do you hit the gym in the morning, before your... Read More What if a trusted friend were to tell you about... Read More Success is what you are prepared to make of yourself... Read More Most people do not have the time to do biceps... Read More Many people dismiss the cool down as a waste of... Read More
Adsense
websites
Optimize Your Exercise: Maximizing the Time Spent Working Out
How to Choose a Good Jogging Stroller
The Science of Carbohydrate Loading
Weight Training: The Real Weight Loss Exercise
Weight Loss, Bodybuilding, and Exercise Tips ? Keeping Your Body-fat Low: Part 2 of 10
The Truth About Lactate and Exercise
The Top 10 Reasons Why Your Dog is a Great Workout Partner
Struggling To Keep Your Workout Schedule? So am I!
Attention, Ladies!
How to Get The Most From Your Home Workouts
Do You Have A Fitness Battle Plan?
Stretching and the Warm up ? Are You Confused?
Exercises You Probably Dont Do But Should!
Is It Safe To Start An Exercise Program?
Get Moving...The Benefits Will Last a Lifetime!
6 Things A Norwegian Fable Teaches Us About Healthy Perseverance Part 1
Performing Potentially Dangerous Gym Exercises
Exercise: Why YOU Should Do It
Should You Train Before Bedtime?
3 Great Weight Loss Exercises
When to Exercise
Invest in Your Health
Success Versus Failure in the Exercise Department
A 30-minute, Or Less, Full Body Workout
The Cool Down - Recover Faster & Avoid Injury!
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
5 Mistakes People Makes When Doing a Workout Program
When you start out with a workout program - whether... Read More
Weight Loss, Bodybuilding, and Exercise Tips ? Keeping Your Body-fat Low; Part 1 of 10
Ever go to a party and wish you were the... Read More
STRETCHING; Why Should I?
This short article looks at some of the tips, tricks... Read More
Top 10 Tips For Finding Time For Exercise
If you're like most people, finding time for exercise... Read More
Incorporating Physical Activity into Your Daily Routine Not as Hard as You Think
You already know that getting at least 30 minutes of... Read More
Reviewing Weider Home Gyms
For most of us non-professional body builders the Weider Home... Read More
Weight Loss and Exercise in Tough Environmental Conditions
Working out is working out, right?Wrong.Depending on the environmental conditions... Read More
Athletics and Winning
Athletics are pretty cut and dry in one regard; the... Read More
The Degradation of Fitness Science
The world and our selves evolve and exist in a... Read More
Weight Loss, Bodybuilding, and Exercise Tips ? Keeping Your Body-fat Low: Part 2 of 10
My name is Greg Ryan. I am a fitness expert,... Read More
5 Ways to Fit Fitness In
Five points to consider when you want to fit fitness... Read More
Warming Up Properly
In our 'Stretching' article series (http://optimumlife.co.nz/Fitness%20Articles/Stretching/Stretching1.htm), we discussed why it's... Read More
Lance Armstrong and Exercise - From Denial to Desire!
Press Conference 1996 ? Lance Armstrong On Wednesday October 2,... Read More
Debunking the Myth of Spot Reduction
Do you ever wonder how to shrink the fat on... Read More
6 Things A Norwegian Fable Teaches Us About Healthy Perseverance Part 1
Author, H. Besser, in his book, "Perseverance: How To Develop... Read More
Lower Back Extension Exercise
This is an excellent exercise for the lower back that... Read More
Essential Power Walking Tips
Ever since I took a power walking class in college,... Read More
Exercise Is a Key to Good Health for All of Us
There's plenty of evidence that an essential component of a... Read More
Core Strength Limits Arm and Leg Power
Core training has become such a hot topic in the... Read More
The Top 10 Reasons Why Your Dog is a Great Workout Partner
1) He or she is never late for a workout... Read More
Burn that Fat - The Most Efficient and Effective Exercise Yet Devised by Man!
Rebounding: Health and Fitness BenefitsAs quoted by NASA, rebounding is... Read More
Who Else Wants To Get In Shape in 35 Minutes?
Most of the physical fitness trainers, and coaches agree that... Read More
Bodybuilding Sins That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts: Part 4
Welcome to article number 4 in our series "Bodybuilding Sins... Read More
Strength Training FAQs
Do you need some beginner's strength training 'how to' information?... Read More
See How Trampolines Can Be Part Of Any Exercise Program
When the trampoline was invented by a young boy intrigued... Read More
Exercise & Fitness |