With spring in full swing, it’s time to buckle down on trimming your figure. You’ll be pulling light clothing, crop tops, and bikinis out of your closet before you know it. Hit your LA Gym to get started on belly burner exercises to tighten and tone before it’s time to bare your best again.

These ab and oblique exercises will cinch your waist effectively. 

Ab and Oblique Exercises to Try at Your LA Gym

Whether you squeeze a workout in any time of day you can or follow a dedicated schedule, be intentional about maintaining an ab and oblique routine. Unlike your limbs or back muscles, your core muscles often need a targeted workout to get much exercise!

Barbell Side Bends

Grab a barbell at your La Gym for this oblique-toning exercise. Standing with your feet a shoulder-width apart, lift a barbell, holding it steady behind your neck. Then, perform a side bend in each direction, holding the bent position for 10 seconds.

Reps: 20 bends per side.

Schedule: Perform this exercise at least four times a week.

Plate Twist

A full workout for your ab and oblique muscles, a plate twist will blast fat hiding out around your waistline. Begin by lying on your back with a weighted plate in both hands resting on your stomach. Raise your legs, bending at the knee to take the table position. Next, raise your torso up into a crunch. As you rise to a crunch, twist to one side, drawing both hands and the plate you’re holding out vertically to your side.

Reps: 20 twists to each side.

Schedule: Repeat twice per workout for three days a week.

Hanging Knee Raises

Considered one of the craziest oblique exercises,  hanging knee raises are intense but highly effective. They intensely work the lower ab muscles that most other exercises gloss over. The exercise is exactly what it sounds like: grab hold of a high bar and hang tight, raising your knees toward your rib cage.

Reps: 5 knee raises for beginners, 15 for experienced fitness junkies.

Schedule: Include this exercise twice a week. If you’re hardcore, try twice a workout twice a week.

Wood-Chop Crunch

An exercise you would likely perform in a CXWORX group class, the wood-chop crunch can be performed with or without weights depending on your fitness level. Lie on your back with your legs raised and knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Raise your arms straight up, bringing your hands (and dumbbells if you're using them) together. Lift your upper body into a crunch, chopping both hands together in a twist to one side.

Reps: 20 crunches and twists to each side, alternating.

Schedule: Perform reps of this exercise twice per workout, three days a week.

Make Your Belly Burner Routine Count

Intentionally incorporating ab and oblique exercises into your workout will get you ready for all the joy of warm weather and showing off your hot body.

We recommend adding fun to your routine when you supplement your workout with these extra exercises. Implement inspiring additions that motivate you as you tighten your figure. Try listening to a podcast while you tone and trim your waist. You can also try music or group exercises classes.

Our FREE 21 Day Yoga transformation program is a great choice too! Click below and start today.