It’s no question that when you are going to the gym, you are looking for workouts to help improve your abs. Not all workouts are created equal, so it is important to focus on gym workouts that will help you the most.

Remember to work your upper abs, lower abs, and obliques. If you don’t work them all out, you will end up with uneven muscle tone. Crunches, side crunches, and sit ups are good to make sure you are working out all the ab muscles.
Captain’s Chair should be done at the gym with a machine. It is one of the most effective gym workouts for the abs. Start with legs dangling and slowly lift your knees in toward your chest. The motion should be controlled and deliberate as you bring your knees up and return them back to the starting position.
Reverse Crunches lift the legs up to the torso rather than lifting the torso to the knees. This will work to strengthen the lower abs.
The Bicycle Crunch has been determined as one of the most effective workouts to help strengthen your abs. Start by Lie face up on the floor and place your fingers behind your head. Bring your knees in towards your chest and lift your shoulder off the floor while avoiding putting any strain on your neck. Straighten your left leg out while Concurrently turning the upper body to the right, bringing the left elbow towards the right knee. Switch sides, bringing your right elbow In the direction of the left knee. Continue switching sides in a ‘pedaling’ motion for 15-20 reps.

Bicycle Crunches are one of the most effective ways to work the abs. Start by Laying face up on the floor with your fingers behind your head. Step 2 Bring your knees in-towards the chest and lift the shoulder-blades off the ground and avoid pulling on your neck. Straighten the left leg out while synchronously turning your upper body to the right, and bringing the left elbow towards your right knee. Switch sides, and perform the task for the right side. while bringing the right elbow towards the left knee. Continue alternating sides in a ‘ for 10 15 reps.
Ab Crunches with an Exercise Ball are done the same way as a traditional ab crunch. If done while sitting on the exercise ball, it will give these ab crunches an extra boost.
If you focus on all of the gym workouts for your abs, you will definitely notice improvement in the abdominal area, but you should also consider the diet you are eating to make sure you are burning fat to uncover those toned ab muscles.

By: Jose R. Farino

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enthusiast as well as enable simple and easy physical activity for those who are quite sedentary during the day. This includes 9-5 office workers who are at a desk all day. The importance of a good Yoga workout though is not just knowing how to do it but also setting up an area where you can perform Yoga in the most comfortable way.

One of the most crucial factors that attribute to the comfort level of any Yoga session is your Yoga mat. Now some people can make do without a mat, and that’s fine. However, most people, and that includes me, can’t sit on a hard floor for too long without getting sores so I need a good thick yoga mat to cushion the floor. I have noticed from personal experience that when I do Yoga with no mat or with a mat that is too thin I come off much worse that before I started the session. This includes sore feet and ankles. However, after using a thick or extra thick yoga mat not only can I have a Yoga session that is extremely comfortable but I can have it for a lot longer. This makes me look forward to my Yoga every morning because I know how amazing I will feel after and that the rest of my day will be energised.

There are a few things you need to consider before getting a Yoga mat that suits you. Different people will feel different on different types of mat:

• Standard mat – this can be fine for some people as some people prefer having a session on a solid, firm ground
• Cotton mat – these can be quite comfortable, but may not provide enough cushioning on a hard floor
• Eco mat – These mats prioritize the eco-friendliness of the materials used to make the mat rather than the comfort, although some eco mats are of a really good quality.
• – these are my favourite as the provide a good level of cushioning on a hard floor. Some people worry about balance being effected but my balance has been the same on these mats and even better in some positions.

So how do you go about finding a mat for you? The best way is to try them out first, if possible in order to check the comfort level of each one. I personally bought all of mine until I found the one that was perfect for you. At the end of the day all I want is a good Yoga session and my thick yoga mat always ensures I have one.

Author: Ketan M Patel

K. Patel, Yoga enthusiast, Visit my blog at http://www.thickyogamatblog.com

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Maybe you started out with one of those colorful cheap mats, but found out it stunk to high heaven of chemicals? Or maybe you went the earth-friendly way and got a yoga mat made from jute. It didn’t smell bad, but then it didn’t last more than two months either. What’s a yoga practitioner to do?

Standard Plastic Yoga Mats

This is a common first-timer mistake, but it’s the cheapest type of mat and therefore expected of the newbies. But it IS a mistake if you intend to keep doing yoga. If you’re not sure, this type of mat may just turn you away from yoga altogether! First of all, it’s very thin and doesn’t provide much in the way of cushioning. Additionally it really smells of chemicals, and these chemicals are not conducive to good health! These types of mats are made from Phthalates.

This chemical turns hard plastic soft and causes lung and kidney damage in rats. Don’t leave this type of mat in your car, either. It will release this harmful chemical when it gets hot. And if you’re concerned about the environment, these aren’t for you, either. They are made using and e

nvironmentally dangerous process.

Cork or Jute Yoga Mats

Cork and jute yoga mats are environmentally friendly, but they have drawbacks of their own. They are made from porous plants, and therefore absorb your sweat when you practice your yoga. This results in a matching smell to your well-exercised but un-showered body, and a weakening of the structure over time. Now, it won’t fall apart like that "other brand" of paper towel on the commercial, but don’t expect it to last very long if you practice yoga with any regularity.

Rubber Yoga Mats

This is the best type for the environmentally-conscious money saver. They are sturdy yet inexpensive. Rubber is a replaceable resource, but be sure your mat isn’t made of synthetic rubber. This is made from an environmentally unfriendly process, and is liable to have the same health detriments, although not as bad as the phthalate mats. Natural rubber mats could be a problem for you if you’re allergic to latex, but they do make phthalate-free and latex-free mats for a bit more in cost. They are well-worth it rather than exercise on harmful chemicals or the rubber/latex that causes your allergies to flare up.

Pilates Mats?

Can you use Pilates mats for yoga? Sure, but watch for a few things: First of all, a Pilates mat is much thicker than a typical yoga mats because you spend more time on the floor doing Pilates than doing yoga. It’s beneficial in saving knees, hips, elbows, shoulders, and spine from contact injuries. You may want to consider it to cushion an old injury to prevent further damage. Second, Pilates mats aren’t necessarily made with non-slip surfaces. You need this for yoga, so be sure it has this feature. If you do both yoga and Pilates and want to use just one mat for both, definitely use a Pilates mat. Using a mat meant for yoga when doing Pilates could cause injuries.

Author: Michael Russell

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Yoga

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Yet the fact of the matter is that a space that is an oddly shaped 6′ x 9′ at its narrowest is far larger than my yoga mat.

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