Oh, that flat shaped stomach!

How many of us have repeatedly looked at ourselves in the mirror wishing to tighten and reshape the midsection of our body.

Our midsection, which includes our abdominal muscles together with our pelvic and lower back muscles composes what is known as our “core.”

Strong and toned stomach muscles though something of a status symbol, have a far more significant role in our well-being.

Strong core muscles can help prevent all kinds of problems in the body. Most common among them is lower back pain.

Our core also serves as the vital link between shoulder and hip stability and the muscles of our core are the foundation for all our movements. They stabilize the spine and create the firm foundation for the co-ordinated movement of our extremities.

Additionally, training the core muscles helps improve body alignment and corrects postural imbalances. Such imbalances can often lead to injuries.

Finally, one of the greatest benefits of core training is that it helps develop functional fitness-fitness that is essential for our daily and regular activities regardless of whether we are athletes or business people, young or old.

It is important that we learn to keep our tummy tight all day long and not only when we exercise. We have to learn to recruit our stomach muscles while still breathing-making it part of our daily routine and part of our way of life.

When we choose a set of exercises aimed at strengthening and shaping our midsection, it is vital to select a set of exercises that work all the groups of muscles that form the abdomen- upper and lower abdominal muscles as well as the obliques.

Most Effective Ab Exercises