| Being slim is no guarantee for having a flat stomach. | | | | strengthening the abdominal muscles. |
| Just walk around the beach on a hot summer day and | | | | From the Downward Dog, move into the Upward Dog. |
| observe the number of thin people with mild to | | | | Drop your hips and raise your head. Move your weight |
| extreme pot bellies. Being underweight does not mean | | | | from the balls of your feet, unto the tops of your feet. |
| a slim physique or good health. If you want to firm up | | | | Keep your knees off of the ground. Now reach with |
| your waist line, strengthen your back and trim that | | | | the top of your head to the ceiling. Do not slouch. |
| spare tire, read on. | | | | Instead try to separate your head from your shoulders. |
| The popular approach to flattening a stomach is often | | | | Let your chest project forward. The Upward Dog |
| crunches, crunches, crunches. Then cardio, cardio, | | | | stretches the abdominals, hip flexors, chest and |
| cardio. And finally count calories, calories, calories. Yep. | | | | strengthens the shoulders and lower back. |
| It does work...in the short run. But, I have it on | | | | The Yoga Sun Salutation is more complicated, but is |
| teenagers to athletes, soldiers, women and teenagers. | | | | worth the effort. It combines all 3 previous exercises |
| Working out like crazy, while starving might get you | | | | and then some. |
| into your best clothes prior to a wedding, prom or date, | | | | 1. Stand erect, feet shoulder width apart. Inhale and |
| but your body will be straining to snap back into its | | | | raise your arms above your head. |
| original form. | | | | 2. Exhale and bend forward at the waist while bending |
| A more intelligent approach is to work on your posture | | | | your knees slightly. |
| first. If this sounds ridiculous, try pulling back your | | | | 3. Step your right leg back into a lunge. Keep your |
| shoulders and squeezing your shoulder blades | | | | upper body upright. Inhale. |
| together. Amazing, eh? Your stomach just sucked | | | | 4. Step back with your left leg, into a Downward Dog |
| itself in a couple of inches. This is part of the success | | | | position. Exhale. |
| of systems like Pilates, power yoga and some martial | | | | 5. Inhale as you move into an Upward Dog. |
| arts: the trainees stand taller and appear slimmer. So, | | | | 6. Step your right leg forward into a lunge. |
| how to improve your posture in record time? | | | | 7. Exhale while you bend forward at the waist and |
| Generally speaking, a slouched posture often has the | | | | step your left leg forward, knees bent slightly, so that |
| following muscle problems: | | | | your head is hanging towards the ground. |
| · Weak upper back | | | | 8. Bend your knees slightly and straighten your body |
| · Tight chest and frontal shoulder muscles | | | | up as you inhale. Repeat, but begin stepping back with |
| · Tight and weak lower back | | | | the left leg. |
| · Weak abdominal muscles | | | | Repeating this routine 2-3 times in the morning and |
| · Tight hamstrings | | | | evening will have a profound effect on your posture, |
| · Tight hip flexors | | | | relaxation and feeling of well-being. Keep at the Sun |
| There, now that you might feel that your world has | | | | Salutation without rushing it. Most skinny people are |
| gone wrong, consider the following exercises: | | | | high-strung and need to learn to slow down and |
| 1. The lunge | | | | concentrate. The Sun Salutation can teach you a bit of |
| 2. Downward Dog | | | | patience. Its nothing mystical, just a well thought out |
| 3. Upward Dog | | | | exercise. |
| 4. The Yoga Sun Salutation | | | | Crunches are pretty simple. Just remember to keep |
| 5. Crunches | | | | the small of your back pressed into the mat and |
| The Lunge is a basic fencing position. The front leg is | | | | exhale as you come up. Finger tips rest on the back of |
| bent at the knee and the rear leg is held straight, while | | | | your head. Do not yank your head forward. |
| the upper body is held upright. If your legs are too tight | | | | Once these movements are mastered to the point |
| bring them closer together. The front knee should | | | | where you can do the sun salutation 6 times in a row |
| strive to stay above the ankle so that the knee does | | | | and make contact with your heels during the |
| not get out of alignment. Gently rock back and forth. | | | | Downward Dog, then you are well on your way to |
| This will stretch out the hip flexors (on the straight leg). | | | | more advanced movements. |
| Apply the exercise to both legs. | | | | One the nutrition side of the house, cut out the |
| The Downward Dog is performed from the plank or | | | | starches and sugars. Many skinny people (like my |
| push up position with the feet spread more than | | | | former self) like to binge on starches and sugars. Keep |
| shoulder width apart, weight on your hands and balls of | | | | up the water and protein and fresh foods. I used to |
| your feet. While keeping your arms straight, lower your | | | | follow the Priority Eating strategy: Water, then protein |
| shoulders and head so that you are looking between | | | | (beef, chicken, fish, eggs), then vegetables, then fruits, |
| your feet. At the same time, push your hips up to the | | | | then grains, then whatever. The trick to eating like this |
| sky, while trying to extend your tailbone. Beginners will | | | | is to PLAN AHEAD. Either pack your meals, stock |
| find their heels raise off of the ground and will have | | | | your refrigerator or know ahead of time where you |
| difficulty keeping their legs straight. The Downward | | | | are going to eat out. Do not set yourself up for failure. |
| Dog will stretch out the frontal shoulder muscles, lower | | | | Good luck. |
| back muscles, hamstrings and calf muscles, while | | | | |