Build stronger abs and obliques using only your body weight with this abs workout and yoga block.
Now is the perfect time to start training with little or no equipment when one of the best yoga mats may be all you have. This workout only takes 10 minutes, which means it can fit almost anywhere in your day and tone your core with very little training.
If you don’t have a yoga block, a cushion or cushion will work. Watch the video below to find out, and we’ve got some tips to help you melt your middle to the max.
Check out Roxana’s 10-Minute Abs Yoga Workout:
“Time to have some fun with yoga block or a cushion/cushion,” says Roxanne. “This video is complete, which means you can just follow along as I explain all the Pilates-based exercises!”
The workout format is simple: 10 different exercises performed for 50 seconds on and 10 seconds off. “Do this workout on your own or do it twice if you really want to SWEAT!” she adds. You can take a break for a few minutes between rounds or attach a workout to the end of your main workout as a finisher.
Can you get abs with bodyweight exercises?
Progressive overload your muscles don’t just mean lifting more weight over time, although this is a very effective way of building muscle known as hypertrophy.
You can still build abs using bodyweight exercises, and there are so many creative exercises you can try to strengthen and tone your core if squats, pull-ups, and other “traditional” core exercises aren’t for you .
Body fat percentage ultimately determines how well we can see muscle definition, so while you may be able to tone your core muscles, you still may not see a six pack.
Losing fat (for many) is not a quick and easy process, so look at factors like how active you are throughout the day (read: What is NEAT?) and diet and lifestyle—if muscle definition is your primary goal.
Roxanne offers some helpful advice, adding, “You can’t see fat loss,” meaning you can’t choose where you lose fat on your body. To combat this, she recommends a calorie deficit to induce overall fat loss: “I say minimal because slow, steady weight loss is best for overall health,” which means burning more energy throughout the day than you consume.
pilates, Weight training and bodyweight exercises are great examples of exercises to do if you want to develop your core strength and stability.
Tips from a personal trainer
Before you start this workout, a few tips from Pilates instructor Roxana and me (personal trainer).
Roxanne recommends keeping your lower back flat on the mat during movements that involve raising and lowering your legs, and only moving as far as is comfortable for you. “Think about pressing your spine into the mat with your legs up,” she says. You can keep your head on the mat if that’s more comfortable. Remember the mind-muscle connection. Really think about how your stomach “crunches”.
I’m a sucker for a yoga block. Used in yoga to progress or regress an exercise, depending on ability, blocks can improve muscle activation, alignment and posture during practice. A firm cushion, pillow, or book will also work well, but make sure you actively push your hands or feet against the support (depending on the exercise) to help activate those working muscles as you work.
Remember to focus on the main activation — this is the most important thing to do when training abs — to help protect the lower back and keep the spine as neutral as possible without hunching the shoulders or rounding the back.
To properly support your lower back on your yoga mat, gently press down on the mat to maintain neutrality while tilting your pelvis slightly toward your spine. At no point should you feel that your lower back is straining or arching excessively.
More from Tom’s Guide
, It looks like you may have started a request but didn’t finish. Could you please provide more details or clarify what you’re looking for? Whether it’s a writing prompt, a question, or something else, I’m here to help!, #weightsyou #yoga #block #10minute #workout #build #strong #abs, #weightsyou #yoga #block #10minute #workout #build #strong #abs, 1735560861, no-not-with-weights-you-need-a-yoga-block-and-this-10-minute-workout-to-build-strong-abs
