Quotable Quotes

“I do not try to dance better than anyone else, I only try to dance better than myself” 

~Mikhail Baryshnikov

Lifestyles

Here is some good advice for something that affects all of us ... Read Here

Core Training

Here's a good way to circumvent the problem of engaging the hip-flexors when doing situps/crunches. It's called the Janda Situp.

How it's done:
Lie on the floor on your back with knees bent at 90 degrees as in a normal situp starting position.  Have a training partner hold your legs just above the ankles in a pulling motion.  If you don't have a partner, you can achieve the same result by attaching a band to a fixed object and wrapping it around the ankle.  Maintain your feet firmly on the floor.  Perform your situps/crunches as normal while engaging your hamstrings in a pulling motion. 


Why it works:
By engaging the hamstrings, you disable the hip flexors thereby putting all the pressure of the situp on the abdominal wall.  Six Pack here we come :-)

Alternates:
This exercise can also be performed for the obliques by pulling with only one leg and extending the other.  Crunch the pulling side for your set then switch legs.

Try this and let me know how it works for you.