Are you ready to unleash your fitness potential? Before embarking on an ultimate ab workout, let’s talk about the secret to a successful workout: a great warm-up routine! By targeting specific muscles and preparing your body for movement, a proper warm-up sets the scene for an amazing workout experience. In this blog post, we’ll dive into 6 effective ab stretches and 6 ab exercises to take your routine to the next level. So, get ready to break a sweat and work your muscles!

Kneeling Backward Abdominal Stretch

1. Position your body into a tall kneeling position, knees underneath your hips and toes on the ground.

2. Extend your upper back, reach back with your arms, and grab the back of your feet.

3. Hold the stretch for time or repeat with reps.

Cat-Cow Stretch

1. Position your body on all fours with your hands underneath your shoulders and your knees under your hips.

2. Arch your spine towards the ceiling like a cat hunching its back.

3. Hold for 30 seconds as you tuck your chin to your chest.

4. Then, push your abs towards the floor and your chest up until you feel a stretch in your abs.

5. Hold that stretch for another 30 seconds.

Prone Abdominal Stretch

1. Lie prone on the floor with your hands underneath your shoulders.

2. Push your hips into the floor, straighten your arms, and lift your upper body off the ground.

3. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds.

4. Return to the starting position and repeat four times.

Lying Rotation Stretch

1. Lie on your side and bring both knees towards your chest.

2. Place the arm closest to the floor on your knee and prevent it from moving.

3. With the other arm, reach back behind you.

4. Feel the stretch in your obliques, chest and shoulder.

5. Hold for a few seconds and repeat.

Seated Lower Trunk Lateral Flexion Stretch

1. Sit upright in a chair with your hands behind your head.

2. With your elbows level with your shoulders laterally flex the weight while you move your right elbow towards your right hip

3. Do 10 more reps going from side to side holding for a few seconds each time.

Rotating Stomach Stretch

1. Lie prone on the floor with your hands underneath your shoulders.

2. Push your hips into the floor as you straighten your arms to lift your upper body off the ground.

3. Straighten your right arm and push yourself to the left until you feel the stretch.

4. Go side-to-side 10 times and hold for 3 seconds with each rep.

Now that you have properly stretched your body, dive into the ultimate abdominal workout routine:

20 Mountain Climbers

1. Position your body in a plank position by putting your hands and feet on the ground and straightening out your back.

2. Tighten your core and alternate by bringing one knee to your chest, then back out again.

3. Speed up each time until you’re “running” against the floor.

4. Do 20 reps of this motion on each leg and alternate inhaling and exhaling with each leg change.

20 Plank Leg Raises

1. Start in a plank position on your forearms.

2. Tighten your abs and glutes and keep your body level.

3. Raise one leg to hip height and hold it there for 2 seconds.

4. Then drop your leg back down and do the same motion with your other leg.

5. Repeat this 20 times.

10 Sit-Ups

1. Lie on the ground flat on your back and bend your knees to 90 degrees.

2. Place your feet about 12 inches apart and your hands on the side of your head.

3. When you’re ready, sit up and touch your knees to your elbows.

4. Return to the floor and repeat this motion 10 times.

10 Sitting Twists with Dumbbell

1. Start in a seated position on the floor, with your legs bent on the floor.

2. Hold the dumbbell in both hands.

3. Engage your core by pulling your belly button in towards your spine and tensing your abs.

4. Lean backwards with a straight spine and rotate your body slowly from side to side so the kettlebell almost touches the ground.

5. Repeat this rotation 10 times.

10 Leg Raises

1. Lie on your back with your legs straight up and together.

2. Keep your legs straight and lift them all the way to the ceiling.

3. Slowly lower your legs back down till they hover right above the floor.

4. Repeat this motion for 10 reps.

20 Flutter Kicks

1. Lay flat on your back and extend your legs at a 45-degree angle

2. Lift your head and neck slightly off the ground.

3. Begin lifting your legs up and down, alternating as you go

4. Repeat this process for 20 reps (10 on each leg).

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