The 7 Best Exercises to Get a Strong Core

March 16, 2017

Whether it’s summer or not, having a nice core is always in season. Beyond just looking good, a stronger core can improve athletic performance, provide better support to the spine, and even help increase balance. So while having a nice set of abs to show off is nice, there are so many more benefits to working out your core and nailing down that perfect ab routine. Kat Swindell, from Primitive Athletics, shares her ultimate routine so you too can get killer abs fast.

The Ultimate Ab Routine: Get a Strong Core With These 7 Exercises

For the best results, complete each exercise 50 times before moving on to the next.

1. Traditional Sit Ups

For this ab exercise, you can either take a regular stance with your feet or do the butterfly position to change things up.

2. Standard Crunch

Develops the muscles at the front and sides of your torso. Make sure you use proper form for this exercise. Using improper form will reduce effectiveness.

3. Reverse Crunch

Activates many of the same muscles as the standard crunch but puts more of an emphasis on the lower region of the rectus abdominis muscle.

4. Leg Lifts

Works the transverse abdominals. To get some glute activation and change things up, try adding a hip lift before bringing your legs back down.

5. Toe Touch

Doing this exercise alone won’t give you six-pack abs, but it will help develop the muscles to give you that cut look. This exercise activates the middle and upper region of the abs.

6. Hollow Rocks

This popular CrossFit move works the rectus abdominis muscle as well as the obliques. If you’ve never done this exercise before, start by holding the position before beginning the rocking motion.

7. Superman

While this exercise won’t help give you killer abs, part of having a strong core includes a strong back. This exercise works the lower back muscles to help support and stabilize the spine to help improve overall core strength.

After completing these exercises, take a little break and then go for a second or third round. Commit to doing this ab routine 3-5 times a week and you’ll have a killer core in about a month or two.