12 Minute Abs

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Hey lady friends!

It's been a minute, hasn't it? This has been a very busy season for me, but I'm so happy to finally bring to you a kick-abs workout! (See what I did there?)

Core routines often get nudged aside to make room for other traditional upper and lower body workouts. And to be fair, those workouts engage the core in very sneaky ways, so you're most likely getting a great core workout without even realizing it! Still, for a holistic, effective workout regimen, it's good to include moves that target your abs and obliques directly. And the stronger your abs become, the better you will be able to perform upper and lower body lifts. Win-win!

I love this workout because it engages all regions of the abdominals, and it can be easily modified. You can adjust the amount of time for each exercise or the number of times you repeat the routine. Or, if you're looking to bring and keep your heart rate up for more of a cardio challenge, you can add a minute of jumping rope, jumping jacks, burpees, (if you're really crazy!) or any other cardio exercise in between each abdominal exercise. You could also add this workout onto the end of a strength set or cardio workout. The possibilities are endless!

For this workout, you'll need an exercise mat or a soft surface like carpet to cushion your back. You'll also need a stability ball for a few moves. Other than that, this is a predominantly bodyweight-only workout.

For your warm-up, I would suggest doing some light cardio and exercises to warm up your core. Some examples include torso rotations, side bends/reaches, forward/backward reaches, windmills, jogging in place, and shallow squats. As for a cool-down, I recommend side bend stretches and yoga mat work such as downward dog, cat-to-cow stretch, cobra stretch, and child's pose to relieve any tension in the core muscles.

I hope you enjoy this very flexible routine! Let me know in the comments below how you adjusted this workout to meet your personal fitness goals.