Top 10 Ab Exercises For Home Workouts

Strengthening your abdominal muscles offers more than just aesthetic benefits. A robust core enhances posture, stability, balance, and can even prevent sports-related injuries and alleviate lower back pain.

"A strong core can also simplify everyday tasks such as climbing stairs or sitting at your desk for extended periods," notes Nora Minno, RD CDN, a certified personal trainer at the Daily Burn.

The best part? You don't need a gym membership; most ab-targeted exercises can be done at home. Here are Minno's preferred at-home ab workouts with clear instructions on how to perform them. Aim for three rounds of this workout series, two to three times a week, to fortify your entire core.

1. Heel Tap

How to do it:

- Lie on your back, knees bent at a 90-degree angle, feet off the ground.

- Keep your knees bent, extend one foot to touch the floor, then return to the starting position.

- Repeat on each leg 10 times, totaling 20 reps.
  
Targeted Muscles:  Lower abs

2. Leg Lower

How to do it:

- Begin with legs at a 90-degree angle directly overhead.

- Slowly lower your legs four to five inches, keeping them hovering in the air, and hold for 5-10 seconds.

- Return to the 90-degree angle, repeating the exercise for 10 reps.

Targeted Muscles: Lower abs

3. Russian Twist

How to do it:

- Sit up straight, knees bent, and feet in front of you.

- Lift your feet about a foot off the ground, engaging your core.

- Twist your upper body to one side, keeping your legs in front.

- Complete 10 repetitions on the opposite side.

Targeted Muscles: Obliques

4. Side Plank with Dips

How to do it:

- Place one elbow directly under your body and lift into a side plank position.

- Lower your hip just below the ground, then use your core to return to the starting position.

- After 10 reps on the same side, switch sides.

Targeted Muscles: Obliques

5. Standing Knee to Hands

How to do it:

- Stand straight with arms overhead.

- Lower your arms, bringing your knee to meet your hands.

- Perform 10 repetitions of each side.

Targeted Muscles: Lower abs

6. Standing Oblique Crunch

How to do it:

- Stand upright with wide feet, lower into a wide-leg squat.

- Place hands behind your head, lower your upper body toward each knee.

- Perform 20 repetitions, dividing them evenly with 10 on each side.

Targeted Muscles: Obliques

7. Tuck-Crunch-Extend

How to do it:

- Lie on your back, hands behind your head, knees curled into your chest.

- Extend legs, hovering about a foot above the ground, hold briefly.

- After 10 repetitions, return to the starting position.

Targeted Muscles: Upper and lower abs

8. Half Sit Up

How to do it:

- Sit straight, knees bent, feet flat on the ground.

- Slowly lower your upper body a few inches from your feet, hold for 5-10 seconds.

- After 10 repetitions, return to the starting position.

Targeted Muscles: Upper abs

9. Beast with Shoulder Tap

How to do it:

- Get on all fours, hover your knees and shins slightly above the ground.

- Keep knees and shins off the ground, tap your right hand to your left shoulder.

- Repeat on the other side for 20 reps (10 on each side).

Targeted Muscles: Total core

10. Bird Dog with Retraction

How to do it:

- Hands and knees on the ground, lift your right arm in front of you.

- Lift your left leg, hip parallel to the mat.

- Steadily bend your lifted arm to a 90-degree angle, then return to the starting position.

- Repeat 10 times on each side.

Targeted Muscles: Total core

Incorporating these exercises into your routine will not only enhance your physical appearance but also boost your core strength, improving posture, stability, and overall well-being.