Yoga Stretching For Great Abs

By Chris Dean

If you really want some fabulous and flat abs, stretching exercises will help you get there. Stretching exercises will also aid in weight loss. In addition to these exercises helping you spine and your hips, they are also great in giving your abs that flat look you've been yearning for. These exercises will also help strengthen your abdominal muscles.

Did you know that poor posture, along with not having a flexible body, can cause your abdominal muscles not to work properly? When you do stretching exercises, they can help your legs, hips and spine get into shape. This will help strengthen your abdominal muscles and will also help your body to become flexible again.

Exactly what kinds of exercises are beneficial to improve your abdominal area? Well, how about yoga? Yes, yoga is good for your abdominal muscles because it involved stretching, which will help tone and firm your abdominal muscles. The middle part of your abdominal area will become leaner and thus, the flattening of your abs will come into place.

As you do these yoga stretches, keep in mind that you're not just stretching for your abdominal area, but you are also stretching for weight loss. Eventually, as you stretch and the extra belly fat comes off, the weight will come off as well.

Let's start by describing some of the yoga stretches that you can do:

Torso Stretch

Start by lying on your stomach. Your hands should be on the floor, flat. While in this position, make sure your hands are close to your chest. Using the tops of both feet, proceed to move the upper body part upward. Make sure your shins are on the floor as you're doing this. As you press your hands into the floor, your arms should be straight. Take a breath and hold it in for 40 seconds.

Yoga Crunch

Start by lying on your back. Pull your knees to your chest area. Your hands should be placed over your head. Make sure your hands are on the floor behind you. As you raise your legs, flex your feet upward toward the ceiling. As you bring your legs down, use your abdominal muscles to do it. When your back starts to arch, stop. Bring your legs back to your chest area. Do the entire process over. You can start out slow, but the goal is to get up to at least 10 repetitions.

There are some suggestions that you should take into consideration:

When you're doing these stretching exercises, it's important to go slow and control your movements. This will help your abdominal muscles a lot. In yoga, it's important to breathe properly. When you inhale and exhale, it helps your muscles and helps you to further your stretches. It's also important to have a connection, with your mind, body and soul.

The more you do these stretches, the better you will feel. You will start to see a change in your body, including flat abs and toned body. Stretching exercises help to fulfill to goal of weight loss as well great abs.

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Stretching & Yoga

By Kirsten Hawkins

Stretching and yoga aren’t just for swamis who can fold themselves up like pretzels, or movie stars who have nothing better to do with their days! It can be a beneficial practice to all who use it, and one doesn’t have to adopt the worldview of the swamis in order to reap benefits from it. The pace of our lives these days is crazy—some would argue destructive.

Yoga proponents say that learning the art form will not make you dull, but more magnetic, and show you the importance of slowing down. Yoga’s ‘inactivity’ can insert a moment to breathe in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life, can clear your mind, and re-energize you with just a few simple techniques.

The first lesson in any Yogic theory is how to relax. This doesn’t mean you flop on the sofa and become a couch potato; instead it is defined as ‘a conscious transfer of energy from one department of nature to another….’ Even if you do this for 5 minutes at a time over a beverage, you’re on your way to relaxing. It will increase your efficiency—try it and see!

Stretching involved in yoga can be very simple: lie on the floor without pillows. Remove your shoes and wear whatever is loose fitting and comfortable to you. Stretch your arms over your head while stretching your legs and feet. Close your eyes and let your head roll to one side.

Now release each part of your body and consciously permit each limb, each ‘section’ of your body, to meld in to the floor. Permit yourself to feel as if you are sinking and think of a peaceful scene. This will likely feel very odd to you the first time you do it, but the relaxation that you bring each part of your body will be refreshing!

Now we’ll work on stretching! Lie on the floor as you did for your full-body relaxation, only this time, interweave your fingers above your head. If you turn your palms upward, you’ll feel a bigger stretch along your ribs and spine. Stretch your arms as far above your head as possible, pointing your toes and pushing them towards the floor so you can feel every muscle between your head and feet.

Once you have stretched every part of your body, release! Now go back in to your full-body relaxation mode, remembering to start at the head and relax your way down to your toes.

Now work on the ‘complete breath’ that yoga teaches. Lying flat on the floor without pillows, place your hands gently on your diaphragm. Slowly exhale as much as you can. Very slowly begin to inhale through the mouth, evenly and without sudden stops. You will feel your diaphragm expand at this point—keep going. Now exhale through your mouth, using a slight force, expelling as much air as possible.

You have just completed your ‘complete breath’ in yogic teaching! If you build up the number of complete breaths per day, you’ll notice less tension, better rest, and a more relaxed you. Release the stress of your day and become who you were designed to be!

Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health expert from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.popular-diets.com/ for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well as reviews and comments on popular diets.

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