I had always dreamt of having a flat stomach.
Even when I was a slim teenager who studied dance, my tummy had a little bump on it.
After two pregnancies my tummy bump grew significantly larger.
I would do exercises such as crunches for my lower stomach but nothing would really tone the lower abs and give me a flat stomach like the one I wished for! My lower belly was still sticking out.
Now I am Pilates instructor and exercises for the lower stomach are my bread and butter.
A flat stomach is finally achievable! (At least if I do not eat too much cake).
There is a key lower stomach muscle that must be used to get the results you looking for.
It is called the Transverse Abdominis or TA for short.
The TA muscle is the most internal of the stomach muscles and runs horizontally across the stomach at the front of the hips.
When doing exercises for a flat stomach it is important that you use the TA muscle.
Its purpose is to hold in everything in the lower stomach area.
A strong TA muscle can translate to a flat stomach.
How do you work the Transverse Abdominis muscle? The crunch, or Curl Up as we call it in Pilates, is one of the exercises for the lower tummy that you can do to get a flat stomach but here is more simple exercise to get you started.
Only do this lower stomach exercise if you do not have neck problems.
I will be discussing these in future articles.
Even when I was a slim teenager who studied dance, my tummy had a little bump on it.
After two pregnancies my tummy bump grew significantly larger.
I would do exercises such as crunches for my lower stomach but nothing would really tone the lower abs and give me a flat stomach like the one I wished for! My lower belly was still sticking out.
Now I am Pilates instructor and exercises for the lower stomach are my bread and butter.
A flat stomach is finally achievable! (At least if I do not eat too much cake).
There is a key lower stomach muscle that must be used to get the results you looking for.
It is called the Transverse Abdominis or TA for short.
The TA muscle is the most internal of the stomach muscles and runs horizontally across the stomach at the front of the hips.
When doing exercises for a flat stomach it is important that you use the TA muscle.
Its purpose is to hold in everything in the lower stomach area.
A strong TA muscle can translate to a flat stomach.
How do you work the Transverse Abdominis muscle? The crunch, or Curl Up as we call it in Pilates, is one of the exercises for the lower tummy that you can do to get a flat stomach but here is more simple exercise to get you started.
Only do this lower stomach exercise if you do not have neck problems.
- Lie on your back with your knees bent.
Leave your arms by your sides.
Ideally your back should have a slight natural arch in it.
Remember what this feels like and try to maintain it throughout the exercise. - Thinking about a flat stomach, draw up the pelvic floor and think about the lower stomach flattening down in between your two hip bones.
At the same time, slowly try to lift your head just a little off the floor (about 3cm or an inch).
Do this about 10 times. - If your lower stomach pops up when you lift your head then keep doing this exercise for a few days, until you can lift your head just off the floor and keep a flat stomach at the same time.
This is great workout for your tummy muscles!
I will be discussing these in future articles.
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