Get Killer Abs with these Core Strengthening Exercises for Women

I find that training the core is an often misunderstood concept.

It’s never a surprise to see a gym packed with people doing crunches after crunches, nearly destroying their spines. It’s clear that people, and especially the ladies, think that great ab exercises for women are nothing more than abdominal training.

As nice as it sounds, it’s far from the truth.

Your abs are only part of your core. If you are constantly training your abdominals, you make that muscle tight, creating an imbalance if you have weak muscle in the back. 

What you want to focus on is strengthening the entire core. And it’s easier than you think.

Check out two great ab exercises for women:

1 – Renegade Row

This is one of the most effective exercises for training the core as a unit. Find yourself two dumbbells and put them on the ground, then get yourself in push up position with each hand grasping a dumbbell. What you want to do is keep your body rigid and aligned and, one hand at a time, pull the dumbbell towards your body. Alternate hand to hand.

2 – The Plank

This exercise has been around forever but it’s extremely powerful. When done correctly, it allows you to train your entire core all at once. Here you are using gravity as the resistance. What you want to do is balance yourself on your toes and your forearms, while making sure your body is one straight line and everything is contracted.

These two core strengthening exercises for women  should be done twice a week maximum.  

So do me a favor please and get away from the crunches. They’re ineffective and can cause serious damage to your spine if done incorrectly. It’s time to move to a powerful core strengthening routine that is balanced and spine healthy.