5 Core Exercises To Spice Up Your Ab Routine

Core circuits can get pretty monotonous when they’re repeated session after session.

The standard planks, leg raises and sit-ups can start to fill you with boredom. It’s important to look for new movements to keep things fresh in the gym so you’re continuing to challenge yourself both physically and mentally.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of exercises out there that involve various types of equipment and can be more stimulating than the standard ones, so here’s some inspiration.

Medicine Ball Boat Balance

Sit on the floor and lift your feet in the air, holding your shins parallel to the ground. Balance the ball on your shins and lean back so your torso is at a 45-degree angle.

You should feel a good burn in your abs and it will get steadily more difficult to hold the ball steady as you fatigue.

Plank & Pass

Go into a plank position with a medicine ball between your hands. Then pass the ball between both hands while trying to keep your body still.

You can also pass the ball to a partner or against a wall.

Alternating Shoulder Tap Plank

To make a standard plank more interesting, tap your hand to the opposite shoulder and repeat with the other hand. Movements like these which demand your core to resist against a rotational force can particularly help with running performance.

Barbell Roll-Outs

Get on your knees with a barbell in front of you. Hold the bar with both hands at shoulder width and then slowly roll the bar out in front of you, maintaining a neutral spine, until you’re almost parallel to the floor. Then slowly return to the starting position.

This works the lower back and the shoulders as well as abs.

Exercise Ball Stir The Pot

Start in a plank position with your forearms on an exercise ball. Then use your forearms to rotate the ball in a circle while keeping your core tight.

Because you go round a full, circular range of motion, this exercise works multiple muscles.