The Six Top Incorrect Beliefs About Exercising Your Abdominals
February 5th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
There are several myths surrounding the abs, including how to work those muscles for the best benefit and how they should look afterward. Myths also abound about how helpful certain exercises are and how they will achieve results. Unfortunately, many of these myths can lead to improper exercising, which can lead to undesirable consequences. To make the most out of abdominal exercises, it’s important to know the truth about abs and ab exercises.
Some people believe that toned abs can only be flat. Some people are convinced that doing more exercise will make their stomachs flat. In reality, there are few people who have the physical ability to have a flat stomach. Ab muscles are not perfectly flat, even when there is no fat layer on top of them. The natural, healthy shape of the abs is rounded, though extra fat will add to the rounded appearance. People often perform abdominal routines to drop the fat on their stomachs. However, this is an additional myth. An exercises are not what melts abdominal fat. Stomach fat can cover up even the most toned abs. To get rid of stomach fat requires a change of diet.
Another myth is that the abs should be worked differently from the other muscle groups. Many people exercise other muscle groups a few days a week, but want to work their abs every day or every other day. The abdominal muscles, however, need a rest period just like any other muscle group. They benefit from having time to rest and recover in between workouts just as other muscle groups do. The desirable aim is to do ab routines anywhere from two to three routines per week to keep them in good condition.
Many people do sit ups to tone their abs. One myth is that sit ups are all that is needed to tone the abdominal muscles. But, sit ups work different muscles. For the best results it takes varied exercises that will work the abs from a few different angles.
Among exercises that are effective, some people believe that doing many reps at a time is the only way to get a good result in the abs. Because many of these people are exercising the wrong way, it may e taking too many reps to achieve fatigued muscles. This is what leads people to believe that more reps are better. There is a little truth in this myth. There is truth to the belief that the abs should be fatigued after a workout. But, it should not be taking 50 or 100 repetitions to make that happen. When large number of repetitions are necessary, it’s safe to say that the exercises are not being done correctly. It’s possible that momentum is being used in place of muscle tightening for some of these reps. You may also be positioned incorrectly, resulting in less resistance and a lesser workout.
Tags: exercise
Which Of These Is Best For You: Tai Chi Or Yoga?
February 3rd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
For a relaxed state, the movements used in yoga and in tai chi are known to be effective. Both are rooted in relaxing the body through slow movements and concentration. Both of these disciplines are practiced partly because of their meditative qualities. The movements used in each practice, however, are performed quite differently. The effects that each practice has physically will differ because the pace of the movements is so different,
The poses used most often in yoga are done to achieve inner peace and harmony. Yoga poses are held for minutes at a time, as stillness is an important component of the practice. This function is not the goal in tai chi. Tai chi poses are done fluidly, with one movement going straight to the next. Tai chi’s continued series of motions was started as a style of martial arts. Tai chi today is a low-impact cardio regimen.
While tai chi is famous for its gentle, non-impact workout, yoga is sometimes not so gentle to the body. There are many challenging poses in yoga that are hard to maintain. But, yoga is a good way to increase stamina and flexibility, though there are some people who are not physically able to practice it. Tai chi, on the other hand, can be done by virtually anyone.
Yoga practitioners can expect an increase in stamina and flexibility. Stress levels and blood pressure are also seen to improve with yoga. The body-mind connection is emphasized highly when practicing yoga to get the full benefits. Many people practice tai chi to get the physical benefits of muscular and cardio exercise, which often results in an improved heart rate.
As a style of martial arts, tai chi utilized the power of relaxation conquer an enemy. The cardio benefits are the main reason that tai chi is performed today, however. Tai chi is especially popular with the elderly who need a form of gentle exercise to keep their muscles toned. Practicing yoga can be challenging for older people, however, and has never been used as self defense. The external moves are not really the focus of yoga at all, but rather the way to achieve the internal effects.
The correct breathing practices are important to both types of workouts. But, breathing is a larger part of the practice of yoga than it is to tai chi. The breathing performed in yoga is done consciously and deliberately, usually with breaths that are coordinated for the poses. Breathing is sometimes done by itself instead of during the yoga positions. Breathing in tai chi is not independent of the motions. The breathing that is done with tai chi is practiced over time, with the breathing developing along with the movements. Both work together to keep the practitioner exercising and with better health.
