The Only 5 Ab Moves You'll Ever Need

The Editors of Runner's World

Core muscles include the postural muscles, which includes the muscles of the back, stomach, and hips. These muscles help us stand upright, transfer energy, and distribute the stress of bearing weight on two legs. Coming up with a core workout routine is fairly simple and you can do it anywhere; it doesn't require weights or going to the gym, unless you want it to!

Here are our favorite basic core exercises to get you started. You should do these daily, but start with every other day to give your muscles recovery time. Begin with just a few repetitions and increase the number gradually. Planks and the Superman Pose can be held for 20 to 30 seconds initially and then gradually extend the time.

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1. The Basic Plank
Hold for 30 seconds, relax and repeat. Gradually increase the number of repetitions and the length of time you hold the pose.

2. The Side Plank
Hold for 30 seconds, relax and repeat. Gradually increase repetitions and time.

3. The Superman Pose
Lie face down. Raise one arm off the ground and hold for 20-30 seconds. Release and raise the other arm. Then move to your legs; hold one leg at a time off the ground. Then, try holding an alternate leg and arm off the ground at the same time. Then, try both arms up at one time and then both legs at one time. The most advanced version is holding both arms and legs off the ground at one time; hence the name Superman Pose. Hold each of these poses for 20 to 30 seconds, relax, and repeat.

PLUS: Add these fun squat variations to your workout for ultimate results!

4. Abdominal Crunches
Lie on your back, knees bent and bring your chest towards your knees. Keep your shoulders back and chin up. Repeat.

5. Abdominal Crunches with a Twist and/or Bicycle Legs
Do the abdominal crunches as stated above but include a Twist to work the oblique muscles. Keep knees bent, feet on the ground. Bring shoulder to opposite knee for a twisting motion. Another version is the bicycle, which is knees bent, feet off the ground and bring opposite should to knee at the same time, alternating legs to elbows.

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