What if I told you that after reading this article you would have all the tips and tricks you would need to have a legendary six-pack, would you believe me? Abdominals are the ultimate exercise to developing beautiful, toned muscles! 
Ab Exercises Without Breaking Your Neck!
Crunches are the simplest exercises that can be done to train your abdominal area. A crunch begins lying on the floor with your hands crossed behind your neck or over your chest. The movement begins by curling your shoulders towards your pelvic area. To have defined, picture-perfect abs you should definitely not hesitate to incorporate this exercise into your fitness program. This famous muscle toning exercise principally uses the rectus abdominous muscles (your core six pack) and your obliques. There also exists a variant exercise, the double crunch (sounds like a flavour of ice-cream, right?), which works the inferior and superior parts of the abdomen at the same time. 
Ab workout tips and tricks from a successful personal trainer!
A great nugget of advice is to place your fingers behind your ears so that the head is well supported by the hands when you lift up your chest. The most common error done by many fitness amateurs, most likely beginners, is to not support anything at all... The ones who are new to working out compensate by using their neck muscles (mainly the sternocleidomastoid) which contracts during the effort, creating tension in the cervical vertebrae. This results in a lot of pain for your body and discouragement for the new fitness lover. You also need to think about respecting the alignment between the neck and spine during the exercise. You can also use a towel that you hold at both ends that will support your head while you lift your chest...Not a bad suggestion, right? 
Potential Downfalls of the Sit Up
The Sit Up, pretty much the crunches cousin, is a very effective ab toning exercise. You start lying on the ground, with your legs folded, and you lift yourself up and down. The best technique is to take it slow, smoothly and without much momentum. Being abrupt and jerking your body up needs to be completely avoided. Book now an appointment with an at-home fitness instructor or certified personal trainer who will explain to you during your personal training sessions that you need to exhale while going up and inhale while going down. Correct breathing is essential in this exercise. Superprof recommends doing 4 sets of 10 repetitions. Start with 8 repetitions if you are a beginner and go up to 12 if you feel like you are training for the Olympics!
Beware of the Flutter Kicks!
Another ideal exercise for getting that six-pack, the flutter kick! This exercise allows your lower abdominal muscles to shine. This exercise is usually included in training programs for senior citizens or people who want to get back in shape. Throughout the whole exercise, it is crucial to have your lumbar muscles flat on the ground, because if they are not, you will compensate and the exercise will not be beneficial. For those who suffer from an exaggerated back arch, you can compensate by sliding your hands around your kidney area. Very important not to lower your legs too low, this could cause a lot of damage to your back! The first danger of the flutter kick is often digging your back into the ground. If the exercise if effective for toning your abs, it is equally effective in causing back pain...
The Potential Risks of Working Your Obliques on a Weight Machine
The oblique muscles, mainly the outer, larger obliques, are unavoidable and essential during your personal training sessions. With their rounded form on the side and front, the obliques flatten the abdomen if they are toned, tighten the belly skin (make a flatter stomach) and define the waist muscles in a more effective way than working your lower abs. There are various exercises tailored to work your obliques, mainly using high tech equipment such as ab machines or reclining benches that can usually only be found at the gym. However, Men's Health has published a fantastic article highlighting the best oblique exercise that can easily be done at home without paying a costly gym membership and using nothing more than a set of free weights and an exercise ball. Men's Health is a leader in the fitness industry and is always there to help you get fit and stay motivated during your personal training sessions! To thoroughly understand how to do these exercises without injuring yourself, it is always best to consult with a fitness professional near you. It would be their pleasure to help you establish a successful workout routine. A common error for fitness beginners is to put too much weight on the gym machines. The risk is not only damaging your abdominal area but blocking a major back muscle. Weight must be added gradually according to your level.
Muscle Reinforcement and Back Injuries
- pyramidalis,
- lower abdominal muscles,
- obliques,
- deltoids,
- and trapezius muscles.
The most common muscle toning exercise is the plank. This exercise works the rectus abdominus (aka six-pack muscles), transverse abdominus, obliques and the lower abdominal muscles. It really is a complete exercise that works all core muscles. Face to the ground, resting your weight on your forearms and tips of your feet, lift your pelvic area so that it is aligned with heels and shoulders. Be careful not to strain your back, especially if you already suffer from back issues. To avoid this, remember to contract your abdominals and glutes to support your body equally on your arms and toes. Hold your position for about a minute and then take the time to rest and recuperate for another minute after the exercise is done. If it's your first time, try to hold yourself up for at least 30 to 45 seconds. We strongly advise you to not do more than a set of 5 repetitions. Progressive training is the base of every successful personal coaching session, whether you are stretching or reinforcing your muscles. You won't become a personal trainer overnight if it seems challenging to you don't be shy and ask for the help of a skilled professional! Muscular reinforcement and resistance training help you achieve your goal of a flat and toned belly. There are other types of resistance training than just abdominal reinforcement. There exist many exercises to reinforce your back and intercostal muscles.
Don't Forget to Breathe during Abdominal Exercises!
Breathing is vital during any fitness training session, whether you are at home with a health and wellness instructor or taking a group fitness class at the local gym. 
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