Strengthen Your Core from Home

You can easily strengthen your core in your apartment. Core and abdominal exercises happen to be the easiest areas of the body to tone and strengthen without using any equipment, so you won’t run into any problems not having adequate supplies or weight machines in your home. You don’t even need a mat if you have carpeted floors or a towel on hand to lay on hardwood surfaces. Try some of these exercises to make your core stronger.

About the Muscles You’re Targeting

Your core is more than just your abdominal muscles. It’s also composed of the muscles in your back, pelvic floor and diaphragm. Your body’s core muscles are made up of the deep abdominal wall and the intrinsic spinal muscles. When strengthened, you’ll not only have a flatter stomach and a sculpted back, but will also have better posture.

Why You Should Be Doing the Plank

The plank is an excellent move for you to do to strengthen your core. Not only can you do it anywhere, it can be done in several different variations for increased or decreased difficulty. Start on all fours. Pull yourself up so you’re in the position you would hold before going down into a push up. Hold it. This is a plank in its truest form. If that’s too challenging, you can always hold the position with your forearms and elbows down. If a standard plank seems too easy, you can alternate lifting one leg at a time and holding it for ten seconds or more. Another option is to hold the position and alternate bringing one knee to the floor. Any variation of the plank is simple to fit into your routine. You can hold a plank in the morning before you eat breakfast or after work while you wait for your dinner to cook.

How To Focus On Your Strengthening Your Back

Strengthening your back muscles can lead to standing taller and looking better in your clothing. A good exercise to do begins with you laying on your stomach with your arms stretched out in front of you and your legs opened slightly in a “V” shape behind you. Start to move your arms like you were swimming the breast stroke. Lift your head and chest upward when your arms are extended to your sides during the stroke and hold for a second or two. You’ll feel your lower back working. Another exercise  begins in the same position, only this time you won’t do the breast stroke movement. Keep your head facing down to the floor and start to flap your arms and legs like you were swimming.

Strengthen Your Obliques with the Bicycle

A great core exercise is a pilates move known as the bicycle. Lay on your back with your hands behind your head like you’re going to do a crunch and lift your knees up in tabletop position. Bring one knee in toward your chest and touch the opposite elbow to it, then twist and touch your other knee to your other elbow. Do the move slowly to work through your obliques.

For more great core strengthening moves-and demonstrations-check out fitness magazines or online fitness websites.

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Rachael Weiner: I’m a communications professional for a non-profit, which financially necessitates my status as an apartment dweller. Constantly “on-the-go,” I’ve resided in five different apartments across the United States over the past five years. Roommate issues, budgeting, organizing and handling problem neighbors are my specialty.