When asked what area of the body they want to improve, the abdominals are always among the top answers. The image of flat, toned abs is part of the culture in the United States. A strong core is beneficial for posture, digestion and general health.
You don’t need to spend money on the latest ab machine advertised on television. Yoga offers the perfect way to achieve a strong, supple core. Forget the six pack abs you see on the latest offering from the exercise industry and focus instead on creating a strong, flexible core.
Yoga offers the added benefit of working all areas of the abdominal muscles including the upper abs, lower abs and obliques. There are specific asanas that tone the abdomen, including bridge pose, bow pose, cat and cow sequences, plank pose, hand and knee balance, chair pose, half moon pose, locust, triangle and others.
Often, poses that benefit the abdominal muscles are threaded together in sequences for classes and yoga DVDs focusing on strengthening the core. You can use these DVDs to supplement your studio practice, if you are interested in strengthening the core and toning the abs.
Don’t overdo it with poses for the abdominal muscles and do these asanas to the exclusion of others. A well rounded yoga practice is the best way to strengthen the abdominal muscles and achieve a toned, balanced and healthy body, mind and spirit.
While performing yoga asanas, it is important to breathe evenly and don’t hold in your stomach muscles. Many of us have been conditioned since our young teen years to suck it in, but this is counterintuitive in yoga. When breathing, it is important to relax the abdominal muscles to fill your lungs and breathe from the diaphragm.
The best thing yoga can do for your abs is teach you to accept them. When you let go and breathe, meditating on the breath and the abdomen rising and falling with each breath, you will begin to appreciate and accept your body. Rather than focusing on what you perceive as wrong with your body, you will begin to admire the strength and flexibility.