Ab Exercises

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Shari Russell

Group Fitness Instructor

Encinitas, CA

Janet Parks

Group Fitness Instructor

Encinitas, CA

Rebekah  Hall

Personal Trainer, ACE Health Coach

San Diego, CA

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Exercise Library

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Ab Exercises

Tighten your abdominal muscles and protect your spine with the most effective ab exercises from the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Learn proper techniques and step-by-step instruction from America's Authority on Fitness. This large collection of exercises is also featured in complete workout routines that include full-body and at-home workouts. Whether you’re looking for beginner level training or advanced fitness programs, we have something here for everyone to target core muscle groups. Choose from a wide variety of lower ab exercises, standing trunk rotations, reverse crunches and more. If you have any questions or want to hear what leaders in the industry are saying, please see our Ask the Expert section.

Stability Ball Knee Tucks
Target Body Part: Abs,Legs - Calves and Shins
Equipment Needed: Stability Ball
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Seated Medicine Ball Trunk Rotations
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
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Stability Ball Prone Walkout
Target Body Part: Abs,Back
Equipment Needed: Stability Ball
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Bird-dog
Target Body Part: Abs,Back,Butt/Hips
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Front Plank
Target Body Part: Abs,Back
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Stability Ball Dumbbell Fly
Target Body Part: Abs,Chest
Equipment Needed: Dumbbells,Stability Ball
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Stability Ball Dumbbell Overhead Triceps Extension
Target Body Part: Abs,Arms
Equipment Needed: Dumbbells,Stability Ball
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Stability Ball Dumbbell Press
Target Body Part: Abs,Arms,Chest,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: Dumbbells,Stability Ball
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Stability Ball Pikes
Target Body Part: Abs,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: Stability Ball
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TRX ® Suspended Lunge
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: TRX
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Inverted Flyers
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Full Body/Integrated,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Bodyweight Squat
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Calves and Shins,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Glute Activation Lunges
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Partner Assisted Bodyweight Squats
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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V Sit Partner Rotations with Medicine Ball
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
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BOSU® Lateral Jumps
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: BOSU Trainer
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Childs Pose
Target Body Part: Abs,Back,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Forward Lunge
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Forward Stepping over Cones

Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips
Equipment Needed: Cones
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Half-kneeling Lift (Hay Bailer)
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
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Half-Kneeling Wood Chop
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
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Hexagon Drill
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Full Body/Integrated,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: Cones
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Inchworms
Target Body Part: Abs,Arms,Back,Chest,Full Body/Integrated,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Jammer - Torso Rotations
Target Body Part: Abs,Arms,Back,Chest,Full Body/Integrated,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: Barbell
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Medicine Ball Lunge to Chest Pass
Target Body Part: Abs,Back,Butt/Hips,Chest,Full Body/Integrated,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
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Quadruped Bent-knee Hip Extensions
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Single Leg Stand
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Single-leg Stand with Airex Pad
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: Airex Pad
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Standing Gate Openers (Frankensteins)
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Standing Hamstrings Curl
Target Body Part: Abs,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: Resistance Bands/Cables
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Standing Leg Extension
Target Body Part: Abs,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: Resistance Bands/Cables
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Standing Lift (Hay Bailer)
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
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Supine Hollowing with Lower Extremity Movements
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Supine Snow Angel (Wipers) Exercise
Target Body Part: Abs,Chest,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Triceps Extension with Tubing (partner resisted)

Target Body Part: Abs,Arms,Butt/Hips
Equipment Needed: Resistance Bands/Cables
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TRX ® Atomic Push-up
Target Body Part: Abs,Arms,Chest,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: TRX
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TRX ® Back Row
Target Body Part: Abs,Arms,Back
Equipment Needed: TRX
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TRX ® Biceps Curl
Target Body Part: Abs,Arms
Equipment Needed: TRX
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TRX ® Single-arm Chest Press
Target Body Part: Abs,Arms,Chest
Equipment Needed: TRX
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Bear Crawl
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Full Body/Integrated,Legs - Thighs,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Standing Cable Rotation
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: Resistance Bands/Cables
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Hip Rotations (Push-up Position)
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Standing Wood Chop
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
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Bent-Knee Sit-up / Crunches
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Standing Medicine Ball Trunk Rotations
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
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Side Plank with Bent Knee
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Stability Ball Shoulder (Glute) Bridge

Target Body Part: Abs,Back,Butt/Hips
Equipment Needed: Stability Ball
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Supine Reverse Crunches
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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TRX ® Suspended Knee Tucks
Target Body Part: Abs,Chest
Equipment Needed: TRX
View Details >

Cobra
Target Body Part: Abs,Back
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Stability Ball Russian Twist
Target Body Part: Abs,Back
Equipment Needed: Stability Ball
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Lunge with Elbow Instep
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Full Body/Integrated,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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BOSU® Squat Jumps
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: BOSU Trainer
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TRX ® Single-arm Row
Target Body Part: Abs,Arms,Back
Equipment Needed: TRX
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Dirty Dog
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Side Plank (Modified)
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Supine Reverse Marches
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Barbell Jammers
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Full Body/Integrated,Legs - Calves and Shins,Legs - Thighs,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: Barbell
View Details >

Forward Lunge with Arm Drivers
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
View Details >

Glute Bridge
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
View Details >

Lateral Over Unders
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment,Raised Platform/Box
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Lunge with Overhead Press
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Full Body/Integrated,Legs - Thighs,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
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Medicine Ball Push-ups
Target Body Part: Abs,Chest,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
View Details >

Seated Side-Straddle Stretch

Target Body Part: Abs,Back,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Seated Straddle with Side Reaches

Target Body Part: Abs,Back,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Side Plank with Straight Leg
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Side-lying Arm Rolls (Db)
Target Body Part: Abs,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: Dumbbells,No Equipment
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Single-arm Medicine Ball Push-up
Target Body Part: Abs,Arms,Chest,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
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Single-leg Stand with Reaches
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
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Stability Ball Sit-ups / Crunches
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: Stability Ball
View Details >

Standing Hip Abduction
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips
Equipment Needed: Resistance Bands/Cables
View Details >

Standing Hip Adduction
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: Resistance Bands/Cables
View Details >

Standing Low Cable Hip Abduction
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Full Body/Integrated
Equipment Needed: Resistance Bands/Cables,Weight Machines / Selectorized
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Standing Low Cable Hip Adduction
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Full Body/Integrated
Equipment Needed: Weight Machines / Selectorized
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Standing Single-leg Cable Rotation
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: Resistance Bands/Cables
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Supine Bicycle Crunches
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
View Details >

Supine Dead Bug
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
View Details >

Supine Pelvic Tilts
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
View Details >

Supine Rotator Cuff

Target Body Part: Abs,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
View Details >

Supine Spinal Twist with Rib Grab and Progressions
Target Body Part: Abs,Back,Chest,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
View Details >

TRX ® Chest Press
Target Body Part: Abs,Arms,Chest
Equipment Needed: TRX
View Details >

TRX ® Front Rollout
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: TRX
View Details >

TRX ® Suspended Pike
Target Body Part: Abs,Shoulders
Equipment Needed: TRX
View Details >

Upward Facing Dog
Target Body Part: Abs,Back
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
View Details >

V-ups
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
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Vertical Toe Touches
Target Body Part: Abs
Equipment Needed: No Equipment
View Details >

Walking Lunges with Twists
Target Body Part: Abs,Butt/Hips,Legs - Thighs
Equipment Needed: Medicine Ball
View Details >

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  • American Council on Exercise (ACE) is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)
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