| The crunch exercise is the backbone of abdominal | | | | (the top-most front layer of your abs, also known as |
| training. It develops the muscles of the abs to help you | | | | your six-pack) continuously, the deeper abdominal |
| build that much-desired six-pack. But did you know that | | | | muscle fibers are relaxing and contracting each time |
| there is a way to do crunches that can actually | | | | you breathe. |
| decrease the size of your waist? | | | | Each time the deep fibers relax, your rectus |
| The key to this technique is the top position of the | | | | abdominus (because it is contracting so hard) will |
| crunch where your abdominals are contracted as hard | | | | squeeze them in a little more, making your waist-area |
| as they are able to. | | | | a little smaller and tighter. |
| When you're in this top position, I want you to breathe | | | | The reason this works to decrease the size of your |
| in and out slowly a few times. Try to relax every other | | | | waist is simple. Usually, most people's abdominal |
| muscle except the abs. This breathing in and out will | | | | muscles just kind of sit there. They don't stay tight, |
| intensify the contraction (as you will find out very | | | | therefore your midsection tends to slouch forward and |
| rapidly). | | | | outward. |
| Here's how it works: | | | | This technique teaches your abdominals to maintain a |
| The muscles of the abdomen are arranged in layers | | | | degree of tightness and tone in them even when you |
| around your midsection, similar in concept to the rings in | | | | are relaxed. This keeps your abs in, leading to a |
| a tree. While you are contracting the rectus abdominus | | | | visually smaller waist. |