Warm Up Routine Before Ab Workouts

It is vital to warm up before your ab workouts and cool down after that. A basic warm-up helps to prevent injuries and it improves your performance of ab workouts. Besides, it is also a great time to prepare yourself for the ab workouts to come, both physically and mentally. Use the following exercises to help you warm-up. Remember to start with minimal effort and build up gradually.

Marching - Keep our feet softly flexed and don't slam your feet down. Always keep your back straight and your abdominal muscles tight. Keeping your elbows bent, keeping your fists soft. Gradually quicken the pace and lift your knees slightly higher.

Squats - Stand with your feet just over hip-width apart, knees soft and your bottom tucked under. Bend at the knees, hips and behind to squat down. Keep your back straight and your heels firmly on the ground. Make sure your knees travel in line with your toes and don't take your bottom any lower than the line of your knees. While you straighten up, make sure that you do not lock out your knees at the top of the move.

Pelvic Circles - Stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees soft and back-straight. Place your hands above your hips and gently circle your pelvis across the back and around the front. Try to isolate the movement to your hips only, keeping your knees and upper body as still as possible.

Knee Lifts - bring one knee at a time up to the opposite hand. Do not lean forward or towards the back. Keep your abdominal muscles tights and your back straight. Make sure your supporting knee is not locked out and keep it slightly soft.

Lastly, do spend some time focusing on yourself. How does your body feel and how are you feeling at that moment? Are you feeling stiff? If so, spend more time on your warm-up. And twinges? Be particularly careful about following instructions.