Hi, Folks. Glad to see you're giving this a solid try - because it's really the best single exercise I know. It gets your metabolism up, improves your circulation, rids your body of catecholamines, (which, when they build up, cause heart attacks), builds core strength, increases your awareness of the insides of your body, warms you up on a cold day and, while you're doing them, takes your mind off all your problems! Not to mention, it's a great conversation starter and party trick!
35, 40, 50! Those numbers are incredible for people who've never done them before. So... I'm going to confess... the push ups must also be doing something for you.
If you feel you can do more of the ab lifts, but find you're stopping for lack of air, you can try this week's exercise on the Yoga Snacks page: 1:2 breathing. It'll start you pacing your breathing, so each breath lasts longer. There's also lots you can do to build up the quality of your breathing over all, so if you want tips on that, please don't hesitate to email me or pm me. (
corinne@audioyoga.com )
And, snowyowl, these are great as part of an overall plan to improve your lower back. I have some other exercises, (easier than this one! LOL ) on my website if you want some help with that - or just email me and I'll do what I can to help you out.
Sultana, o answer your question, these will work the entire abdominal region if you do them deeply and they develop diaphram strength, too. Nice to see there are other people huddled in this non-push up corner with me. LOL To tell the truth, as a mother in a busy household, the push ups are just impossible! I try to do push ups, but feel somewhat impeded by the toys and critters poking at my belly and kids climbing up my body thinking it's a play ramp.
Supple Cow - great user ID!
ROTFL OK OK I'll do a sit up challenge whe n you launch it. Haven't done the official version of those in ages. That would be fun - eh? (Do I detect a fellow Canuck?)