Swim kicks is a beginners level abdominal exercise that targets rectus and transverse abdominis.
WHO SHOULD USE THIS EXERCISE?
if you are just starting out in training then swim kicks are a great way to build some foundation core strength. More advance gym goers would benefit more by incorporating the movement into circuits.
KEY POINTS
Put one hand on top of the other and place them underneath your lower back, so that there is no space between your lower back and the floor
Point your toes and lock your knees
Your kicks should go no higher than 60° from the floor
Improve your core balance with Starfish Planks by watching the video at the far bottom. As you will see, this is not an exercise that you would often see used in the gym, or given by instructors, but I love it!
WHO SHOULD USE THIS EXERCISE AND WHEN?
Intermediate – advanced gym rats should look at attempting this one. If the normal style and side planks are fairly easy for you already, then, by all means, move on to this one.
Use starfish planks in circuits along with other exercises that focus on building core balance for maximum results. Here are a couple to help get you started:
This is one of the more advanced core exercises for building explosive strength. If you’re capable, but are not doing overhead sit-ups on a regular basis for some reason then you are missing out on some big gains!
WHO SHOULD USE THIS EXERCISE?
Recommended for intermediate to advanced gym goers. It might be a good idea to start with Single Arm Overhead KB Sit-ups if you have not yet built up enough strength to use band with both arms: https://immortal-training.com/single-arm-overhead-kb-sit-up/
WHICH MUSCLES DOES THIS EXERCISE TARGET?
Rectus Abdominis
Transverse Abdominis
WHAT ARE THE KEY POINTS?
Attach the band to a stable apparatus
Lay flat on your back, knees bent, with your feet on the floor
Hold the band with both hands, extend your arms towards the ceiling and keep the elbows locked
Explode upwards whilst driving your lower back into the ground
Your arms should be above your head when you are completely sat up
Glute activation is a process that encourages an exertion of force from the gluteus muscle group that is strong enough to dominate lower body movements as opposed to other muscles, such as the quadriceps, or lower back. If your glutes are firing off properly then you can improve mobility & posture, eliminate migraines, lower & upper back pain, improve eye sight, speed, strength, agility, as well as many other things.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY GLUTES ARE ACTIVATED?
I recommend taking part in this mobility screening to find out exactly what is going on for sure: https://immortal-training.com
WHO SHOULD USE THIS EXERCISE?
I highly recommend this exercise whether you are male, female, young, or old!
The focus is on gluteus medius, which is responsible for abducting the leg while rotating the femur outwards (i.e. – pulling the leg away from the body). This will help stabilise the hips and knees during big movements such as squats and dead lifts.
One of the main benefits is that the muscles in the hip flexor and adductor areas (in the groin area and inner thighs) will be stretched while the glutes tighten, which will help realign the pelvis into a more ideal position. If bootybuilding is what you are in need of then this move is a necessity!
I have used this exercise on clients for years and, along with a few other movements, have seen it turn flat bums into perky, round ones.
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