| |
| |
|
Muscle Building Information |
|
|
|
Ace Abs Without Crunches, Cradles, Or Sit-ups!
I know what many of you are thinking reading the title of this article. I also thought the same once. It cannot be done! Attaining a stronger, visible, set of abdominal muscles has always been a common goal in people's fitness training programmes and yet, paradoxically, many (most) of these people never actually achieve this goal. Being involved in the fitness industry I see the same problem over and over again. The problem can be spelled out like this. M-A-C-H-I-N-E-S! Now, while there is nothing innately wrong with abdominal equipment, it does bring with it a whole host of potential problems. One of the most prominent is that people simply do not use the equipment correctly. Another is that they erroneously believe that somehow the machine will do half the job for them! A third problem is that to some extent abdominal cradles, and the assortment of similar cradle designs, are essentially lifting your head for you thus eliminating the need for that much effort. There is a way to work the abdominal region however that requires little movement, but that is highly effective, as the emphasis is purely on you to put in the effort without a machine in sight! This method involves the use of deep focused breathing whilst squeezing (with varying degrees of intensity) your abdominal muscle. To some it seems too simple and yet, performed daily and with gusto, it is a wonderfully natural and invigorating exercise that promotes tighter abdominals and, as an added bonus, aids in strengthening the internal organs. Try the basic exercise below each day for the next week and feel the benefits. 1. Stand (or sit) comfortably. 2. Inhale into your belly (not your chest) and feel it expand. 3. Once full with air, being your exhale, and squeeze your abdominals at the same time. 4. Do not rush this exhalation. It should be smooth with no impediments. A good way to perform this exhale is through pursed lips. 5. Repeat at least ten times. Note - Do not squeeze and try to force the air out while holding the breath. Breathing exercises such as this may be dangerous. Ideally, perform where fresh air is circulating. Having experienced this you should be feeling great! Your abdominals will have been exercised, you will have breathed deeply, and energised yourself in as little as ten breaths! It is worth saying that you should not utilise one hundred percent muscular contraction in your first attempts at working your midsection this way. It may lead to injury. Instead, focus on incrementally adding tension as you become more proficient at it. There are many other methods for working the midsection that one can do without machine based, or standard movements, but as a start the above exercise should provide you with food for thought on how one can get a great core workout in without having to wait in line at the gym for the abdominal cradles to be free! Have at it! © Tim Webb 2005 Tim Webb is a fitness instructor, Ju Jutsu instructor and competitor. He specialises in easily accessible deep breathing exercises that combine breath and mind together. His site http://www.breathforsuccess.com/ offers a product that provides deep breathing exercises for invigorating yourself, relaxing, and highlights how your breath can be tied in with your goals to move you towards them in record time!
MORE RESOURCES:
Build-Muscle - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Always Shock Your Muscles For Maximum Growth Always try to "trick" your muscles into growth. You never want to do the same exercises, reps and sets for each and every workout. Muscle Soreness After Exercise Many individuals judge the quality of their exercise session from the amount of pain they experience afterwards. These individuals are convinced by the old adage "No Pain No Gain". Personal Training: 6 Secrets of Award Winning Customer Service Would you believe that your ability to provide quality customer service to your clients is at least as important as your ability to get them results from their training program? Did you even know that customer service was going to be part of your business model? After all, what does personal training have to with customer service?The answer: everything. Remember that your clients are people first, and their status as one of your clients comes second. The Amazing Benefits of Resistance Training When it comes to exercise, resistance training is often overlooked. Resistance training is an essential part of any fitness program and has many amazing benefits. Arm Exercises For Beginning Bodybuilders Most people new to bodybuilding pay a lot of attention to building big arms, sometimes to the point of overtraining. Don't forget, the arm muscles are brought into play during most exercises aimed at other body parts so care must be taken not to overdo things. Exercise The Right Way - The Lying Triceps Extension Other articles in this series looked at a number of exercises, mainly from the perspective of developing a comprehensive muscle building program. Sometimes we take things for granted, especially when it comes to performing the basic exercises that constitute the core of most bodybuilders' training regimes. How To Avoid Injury From Poor Exercise Performance! Another key secret is your exercise form. Perfect form is critical when performing any specific exercise in your own routine. Is Your Muscle Building Potential Limited By Your Genes? It is clear that certain traits are handed down to us by our parents and unfortunately our ablility to grow muscles beyond certain limits is no exception. That doesn't mean to say hard work and carefully planned training won't have a positive effect on your physique - it just means that some people will inherit a greater abundance of the favored physical characteristics than others. Personal Training: 3 Keys to Training Clients in Their Homes When considering your options as a personal trainer, one of the very first things to decide is WHERE you are going to train your clients. The most obvious answer for most trainers is to get a job at a local fitness facility and train clients there. Muscle Building Training Tips For Beginners (*) Proper bodybuilding exercises technique.First steps in muscle building training are easy. A Recovered Treasure: The Pilates Method Uncovered After 80 Years of Dormancy, Pilates is Far From Dead.In a way, he's a lot like Edgar Allen Poe. Body Part Isolation vs. Complex Movements in Strength Training - Build Real Muscle Instead of Fake! Working as a fitness professional, there is one type of question I get all the time that shows that many people are missing the big picture regarding the benefits of strength training. This popular question usually goes something like this:"What exercise can I do to isolate my _______ (insert your muscle of choice - abs, quads, biceps, triceps, etc)?"It doesn't matter which muscle someone is asking about, they always seem to be asking how to 'isolate' it. Re-ignite Your Chest Training Progress Effective Chest Training, Like Everything Else, Begins With The Proper MindsetAn attitude of always wanting more, never being satisfied, is a key element in becoming successful in whatever you do. There's always a higher level of development to achieve-if you're constantly searching for it. Exercise The Right Way - The Seated Calf Raise Other articles in this series looked at a number of exercises, mainly from the perspective of developing a comprehensive muscle building program. Sometimes we take things for granted, especially when it comes to performing the basic exercises that constitute the core of most bodybuiders' training regimes. Anabolic Hormones - A Two-Edged Sword When I was a young boy, emerging muscles were the coolest thing. If a vein popped out a little, that was even more awesome. Bodybuilding Sins That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts: Part 2 Welcome to article number 2 in our series "Bodybuilding Sins That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts". In this article we are going to talk about how bodybuilders tend to create massive muscle imbalances and what you can do to not be one of them. The Ultimate Hard Body Exercise The Front Squat:As you may have already discovered, the squat is at the top of the heap (along with deadlifts) as one of the most effective overall exercises for stimulating body composition changes (muscle gain and fat loss). This is because exercises like squats and deadlifts use more muscle groups under a heavy load than almost any other weight bearing exercises known to man. Exercise The Right Way - The Barbell Bent-Over Row Other articles in this series looked at a number of exercises, mainly from the perspective of developing a comprehensive muscle building program. Sometimes we take things for granted, especially when it comes to performing the basic exercises that constitute the core of most bodybuiders' training regimes. Build More Muscle Mass And Strength Without Supplements Who should use this method to build muscle quickly?If you're serious about your fitness or weight loss, you hate the idea that you're not making the most of every workout. For those of us with long work-days and kids, there's no time or physical energy to waste. Know Your Muscles - The Mid-Section Becoming familiar with the muscles that make up your body has more benefits than simply allowing you to talk shop with your training partners. The more familiar you are with the muscles you're working, the better you'll be able to judge what's needed to make improvements.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
