Hot Ab Workouts to Keep You Warm This Fall

Even though this cool fall wind calls for lots of layers as winter nears, I’m still dreaming of bikini season. Well okay, not to rub it in, but  in late October it is still 80° in southern California. That’s why I always have to be bathing suit ready! If you are living in cooler places don’t go into complete hibernation, because winter vacation’s to tropical locations are around the corner. I have a few quick ab-focused full body exercises to keep you warm and hot, plus my favorite bikini line, PilyQ.com,  recommendations to keep you motivated!

 

Reformer Footwork 

Start: Lie on back, hands behind head with elbows wide. Bring knees over hips, open knees to shoulder distance while keeping heels together. Raise the head neck and shoulders off the mat.

Movement: Keep the head neck and shoulders off mat, while extending legs to straight. Hold for a moment, then draw legs in toward chest, opening knees to hip distance again. Perform 15 repetitions.

Attitude Crunch

Start: Lie on your back, legs together. Place hands behind your head with elbows wide. Turn out right leg, bend the knee slightly and point foot placing it on shin.

Movement: Lift head neck and shoulders as you lift turned out right leg (as in a ballet attitude). Lower upper body slightly as you lower leg in “attitude” position. Raise upper body as you lift leg again. Perform 15-20 repetitions each leg, 3 sets.

Side Plank Torso Twist

Start: Sit on right side waist, with legs stacked and a soft bend in knees. Place right hand on mat underneath shoulder. Brace abdominals, press into right arm and lift hips to side plank reaching the left arm to the sky. (Variation: drop bottom knee to ground under hip)

Movement 1: Twist the torso, reaching the top arm underneath the bottom torso. Keep feet stacked and hips stacked. Reach back up to the sky. Perform 15-20 repetitions on each side.

 

Teaser

Start: Lie on back, arms are in a “T” shape, out to side of shoulders. Legs are pressed together.

Movement: Lift head. Reach arms forward, as you lift upper body and legs simultaneously. Toes are in line with eyes, hands are reaching toward feet. Hold the position of the body as you reach arms in a circle, up to sky, out to side, down and back to start. As arms reach forward, roll back down to the mat one vertebra at a time until the body unfolds completely into the mat. Performs 3 repetitions.

 

Knee Stretches

Start: Standing legs are hip distance. Place gliders or hand towels under feet and roll down to place hands on ground in front of feet. Bend knees until they are in between elbows, lower hips and lift heels. Round back and draw core up and in.

Movement: Brace core and push into toes to lengthen legs behind. Press into toes and use core to draw knees back under shoulders.

 

 

Sporting my beautiful PilyQ Bikini and cover-up in Lake Como this fall! I received so many compliments.