Abs Exercises for on Front of the TV By Navdeep Kathuria So the new fall lineup has arrived again. What's your pick--are you into the Survivor style reality shows or do you prefer the dramas like ER? Whatever your fav is, we want to be sure you are making the most out of your TV watching time. So we've come up with some excellent abs strengthening exercises that you can do in front of the television. By the end of the fall lineup, your sari can come back to the front of your closet! What do you Need? All you need is some carpet space and preferably a mat, but you can do these on the carpet too, provided it's padded enough. Note Please do these with caution! If you feel pain of any sort, don’t continue! Please only exercise within your personal comfort level. Opening Credits—Let’s Get Started! 1) Warm-up (In Pilates known as the “Hundred”) Lie flat on your back. Bend your knees above your chest. Raise your head, chest and shoulders and begin vigorously pumping your hands up and down, as though you were banging on a door with the palm of your hands. Do this for 100 seconds. Be sure to breathe in with a count of 5 and breathe out with a count of 5. 2) The “I had too many Gulab Jamuns” After Pill Lie flat on your back with your heals together and toes spread in a v-shape apart. Your arms should be flat at your side. Slowly lift both your legs 45 degrees off the ground (Position 1). Hold it there for 5 seconds. Then, with control, lower your legs so they are almost touching the ground, but not touching (Position 2). Hold that position for 5 seconds. Then lower your legs back down to the beginning position. Repeat 3 times.   3) Abs Made for a Sari (Plank) Start this exercise in a standard push-up position, with your arms locked (Position 1). Tighten your stomach muscle and make sure your body is in a straight line. Hold yourself in this position for 30 seconds. If you are having trouble, you can put your knees on the ground. You can also do this exercise on your elbows (Position 2). Rest and repeat 3 times. Arms Locked On Elbows 4) Rickshaw (Bicycle) Lie flat on your back. Interlock your fingers, and rest your head in your hands with your elbows pointing to the sides. Be sure your hands are not holding all of the weight of your head. Lift your head, chest and shoulders. You should be using the muscles in your stomach to hold your head up. Bend your knees above your chest. Extend your right leg, while simultaneously touching your right elbow to your left knee. Then, in a fluid motion, extend your left leg, while simultaneously touching your left elbow to your right knee. Do a set of 30 repetitions. Rest and repeat. 5) The Never Ending Bollywood Movie (Jackknife) Lie flat on your back with your arms extended beyond your head. Without jerking your upper body up, slowly lift your arms and legs to bring your fingers as close as possible to your toes. Hold for a 2 sec count. Then bring yourself back to the starting position, SLOWLY! The key to this exercise is to go slow and do it with control. Do this for 10 repetitions. Back to Top