Breathe Your Way to a Flatter Stomach

Many people don't realize how important correct breathing is when trying to tone and flatten the stomach.

When doing ab crunches, it's important to exhale and breathe out as much air as possible on your way up from the floor. This adds more power to the movement and you will be working your abs more effectively.

Once you get to the top of the crunch movement, breathe in and out a few times before you lower your body down to the floor.

Also, when you're doing standing trunk twists, it's important to exhale deeply as you come around on each side.

An Easy Breathing Exercise

Here's an easy exercise you can do during the day to help strengthen your abdominal muscles. You can do this while sitting at work, home, or wherever.

Sit up straight and inhale as much as you can. Make sure your abdominal muscles move out farther than your chest.

Exhale slowly and hold your stomach in for 3-5 seconds. Repeat this process again for at least 20 reps.

The great thing about this breathing exercise is you can practice this throughout the day no matter where you are.

Train Yourself to Breathe Properly

The following exercise will not only teach you how to breathe properly and help tone your stomach/ab muscles, but it can cleanse your lungs and relax your mind.

Most people breathe incorrectly. They breathe through their chest instead of their abdominals. When you inhale, your abdominals should rise higher than your chest.

The following exercise will train you how to breathe the correct way.

1) Lie flat on your back. You can either do this on the floor on a bed. Just be sure you are able to completely relax.

2) Place your hands on your lower abdominal region and inhale. As you inhale, feel your hands rise as your abdominals rise and move away from your body.

3) Now exhale slowly and feel your abdominals lower toward the floor.

4) Repeat this at least 20 times and do this as often as you can. The longer you can do this, the better the benefit.

Not only is this exercise relaxing, but it teaches you how to breathe properly. Over time you will be able to breathe like this automatically without effort.



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