Abs Exercises: Yoga And Pilates

This two-pronged hard-and-fast fitness workout help you build six pack abs

Carnitas or fish tacos? Choices are hard—especially if hard is how you want your abs. And while there's no doubt that yoga has some serious abs strengtheners in its arsenal, we have to concede that Pilates picks up the point for variety and depth in the core category. 
Fret no longer, ab-envying yoginis.You can now have your six pack abs and eat up your sweet savasana, too. "One time I went to a yoga session after Pilates—and everything was so much easier," says Jonathan Urla, instructor at The Sports Club/LA in New York City. "That's when a lightbulb went off in my head. I needed to put the two together."

Yogilates is not your average watered-down combo class. Urla's signature workout uses more than just the key ingredients of each practice and actually fuses the two. Devotees develop hard-core abs, thanks to Pilates, in addition to the supreme posture and balance benefits of yoga. Learn the basics and explore the benefits with this three-move ab routine for newbies. 

Abs Exercises: Yoga And Pilates

This two-pronged hard-and-fast fitness workout help you build six pack abs

Three Great Yogilates Moves for Your Abs

1. Hammock
Targets abdominals as well as glutes, arms, chest, and shoulders
a) Sit tall with your legs bent and feet flat on the floor; place your hands on the floor behind you at about a 45-degree angle; lean back.
b) Keeping your arms straight, inhale as you lift your hips until the front of your body—knees to shoulders—is in one straight line.

c) Lower your hips to the floor, straightening your legs out in front of you as you come down to a seated position.
d) Place your hands next to your thighs and lean forward, pulling your abs in toward your spine.
e) Then push down through your hands to lift your hips off the floor. Hold here. 

Once you're strong and comfortable enough with the parts of this move, connect them so they flow one into the other with your breath. It should go something like this: Lift into your bent-legged table top plank (as shown above) or into a straight-legged reverse plank, lower your hips toward the floor without touching it. Then immediately push your hips through and past your straight arms as though you were sitting on a swing and someone were pulling you back. Bring your hips back, lower them to the floor, and relax.
Repeat 5 to 10 times. 

Abs Exercises: Yoga And Pilates

This two-pronged hard-and-fast fitness workout help you build six pack abs

2. Double leg stretch
Strengthens and tones the abs
a) Lie on the floor, bend and hold onto your knees, and curl your shoulders up off the floor.

b) Keeping your hips down and your lower back pressed into your mat, extend your legs up and out at a 45 degree angle to the floor as you reach your arms straight up (biceps near ears) forming a wide "U" shape with your body.
c) Hold this position, pressing your ribs down toward the floor. 

d) Use your abs to bring your legs and arms back to starting position with your knees bent.
Repeat 5 to 10 times. 

Abs Exercises: Yoga And Pilates

This two-pronged hard-and-fast fitness workout help you build six pack abs

3. Side twists
Works all ab muscles, in particular the obliques
a) Lie on your back with arms extended out at your sides, knees bent, and feet flat on the floor. Lift your bent legs to form a right angle with your torso.
b) Keeping both legs together and both your shoulders pressing into the floor, twist and drop your legs to the left until they're halfway or nearly touching the floor.

c) Bring your knees back to center and twist and drop them to the right side without bringing them to the floor. Return to center.
Repeat 3 to 5 times per side.