How to Do Prone Abdominal Stretches

You’re firming up and trimming down. You have been doing crunches and reverse crunches. You have been working hard on your six-pack abs. But you feel a bit bunched up in your middle. Before you roll up your exercise mat, do some prone abdominal stretches to lengthen those muscles.

Instructions

1. Lie flat in a prone position (on your stomach). Keep your legs straight behind you; point your toes. Relax your neck.

2. Place your hands on the floor under your shoulders, palms down. Push up with your arms, feeling the stretch in your abs. Keep your hips on the floor. Work into a full stretch gradually; each day, stretch as far as you can without causing pain.

3. Exhale and stretch your abs a bit further. Keep your head and spine lined up straight. Hold this stretch.

4. Slowly release the stretch back to the floor. Repeat.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not stretch to the point of pain--stretching is supposed to feel good.