Practicing yoga isn’t just a stress buster but also enables your body to heal itself internally. Yoga helps activate your nervous system, improves blood circulation, strengthens your digestive system and stabilizes your mind, which is key to a healthier body. This post targets specific areas in your body that are key, to not only tone your body but also build your core strength. This is vital for your body to build core strength to handstands and deeper backbends.
Yoga is a safe form of exercise compared with a few other ab workouts. Practicing Yoga, in the long run, protects your muscles and joints from severe injuries caused by strain over time. Mentioned below are some of the ab workouts I do on a timely basis;
DOLPHIN PUSH-UPS
- This is one of my favourite exercises for developing core, arm and shoulder strength. First, get into a normal plank position with your elbows on the ground and interlock your fingers.
- For a more intense workout, get into a full dolphin pose. Start with your buttocks lifted, transition to push forward with your shoulders and then go back to a full dolphin pose. The modified version requires you to drop your knees onto the mat but the motion of your upper body remains the same.
- Remember to not hold your breath during this exercise but breathe as you raise your buttocks in the air.
Repeat this exercise 3 sets with 20 reps each.
INFINITY BOAT
- Get into the boat pose (refer to Chapter 3) and extend your arms.
- Keeping the same posture with your hips and legs, start to draw a full circle on your right side and then transition to the left side, doing the same as the right side. In a nutshell, you’re drawing a horizontal 8 or an infinity sign.
- The bigger the circles the more intense the core workout will be. The better the results.
Repeat this for 10 full infinity signs, then after each set, go back to hugging your knees close to your chest. Do 2 sets.
Tip: For more intensity, extend your legs straight and raise your arms higher.
LEG BUSTER
- Lay on your mat and raise your legs to about a 45-degree angle and make sure to keep your back straight. You can use your hands for support by placing them behind your thighs initially, but for a more intense workout place your hands beside your thighs.
- Keeping your legs straight and raise them to about 2 centimeters above the mat. Hold that pose for 5 full breaths. Then raise your legs further to a greater inclination (as much as you can) and hold your legs for another 5 full breaths.
Repeat this exercise for 20 seconds, 3 sets.
