The crunch is probably the most vital core exercise in an abdominal workout. This is also one of the easiest ways to work abs. The problem is it often is performed incorrectly, which causes pain, strain, and avoidance.
One of the most important things to remember about crunches is that any work your neck is doing is work that your abs is not. The purpose of crunches is to work out your abs, not your neck. You need to be sure that you are letting your abdominal muscles do the work for you and not relying on other muscles or momentum.
In addition to the pain involved in crunches, many people give up on these because they do not see immediate results. If you want visible results for your exercise efforts then the easiest way to work abs is by focusing on your obliques. Oblique crunches are popular for achieving this and will provide dramatic results that others will notice.
An oblique crunch is a traditional crunch with a twist, literally. These may not exactly be the easiest way to work abs, but they do provide the easiest results for your efforts. I consider easy by the amount of effort necessary for the same amount of results and these are by far the most effective abdominal exercises.
If you are one who seriously opposes crunches as the easiest way to work abs, then there are a few alternatives you may find interesting. There is a method of exercising known as the they Matthew’s Method, which includes absolutely no crunches or sit ups. The thing to remember is that you should feel some strain when doing these exercises or you aren’t doing them correctly.
These are not the easiest way to work abs, but they do provide an excellent workout and they deliver results when done correctly. Some of the common Mathew’s Method exercises include: The Oblique Bug, The Oblique Squeeze, The Superman Sling (this is a great exercise for the lower back), The Frog, and The Twisted Frog.
The important thing to remember about all abdominal exercises is that there isn’t one easiest way to work abs. You must find the one that is easiest for you. We all have different issues to address in our workouts. These exercises are a great place to start and use trial and error to find the ones that work best for your particular needs and goals.