@Home Workouts: Gym Ball Crunches

The Gym Ball has got to be one of the best purchases I’ve made in terms of bringing various gym equipment home with me. By purchasing one, I immediately added potentially thousands of different exercises that can benefit my core, abs, back, arms, legs, even bum!

Now when I do go to the gym I can focus on other exercises from equipment I don’t have at home (or rather can’t fit or afford to have!).

Today’s exercise is the first of many Gym Ball exercises I’ll be publishing that you can easily complete at home. All you need is the Gym Ball. It will work your core and abs which in turn, will improve your posture, balance and even help avoid potential back problems.

Start by balancing your back on the gym ball with your feet flat on the ground for support. Your knees should be bent, almost at a right-angle and your fingers on (not around) your neck or temple.

Tighten your abs and slowly lift your upper body forwards into a crunching position.

It’s important that you come right the way up and almost over, in order to gain the most out of the exercise and really strengthen your abdominal muscles. You should feel your abs contract, as you get to the sitting position.

Complete this movement very slowly to gain the maximum effect from it. The slower it is performed, the harder it will be on your core and abs, which will mean they will strengthen as a result and, once repaired, look even more defined.

At the gym I try to complete 2-3 sets of 20 slow repetitions, without stopping. Then once each set is complete, stretch fully.

The exercise will specifically target your abs so if you are at your optimal body fat percentage rate (or close to) this exercise will help bring that definition to them.