If you don’t thoroughly enjoy doing crunches, you’re in luck. Director of The Becoming Center, Anthony Byers, is here to show you safe and effective ab exercises with no crunching necessary!

Incorporating ab exercises into your regular fitness routine is an easy way to strengthen your core, and improve your balance and stability, especially for older adults. Falling, which is increasingly common among adults in their later years, can often lead to costly hospital visits and create additional long-term health complications that greatly affect your quality of life.

Ab Exercises to Improve Your Balance and Prevent Falls

Anthony says practicing ab exercises that strengthen your core and improve your stability is a great way to reduce your risk of falling. Here are three ab exercises you can do anywhere that require no crunching at all!

Be sure to consult your doctor when introducing new ab exercises into your fitness routine.

Bird Dog

The bird dog is one of many ab exercises that not only strengthens your core, but your lower back as well, which Anthony says can really help improve your stability.

• Start on your hands and knees with your hands directly below your shoulders and your knees directly below your hips.
• Extend your left arm straight out in front of you in line with your head and shoulders. At the same time, extend your right leg back until it is in line with the rest of your body.
• Return your arm and leg to their original position and repeat five times. Then switch sides.

Dead Bug

Don’t let the name of this ab exercise mislead you, the dead bug works to strengthen the entire center of your core.

• Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
• Raise your bent legs so that they are parallel to the floor while keeping a 90-degree bend in your knees.
• Lift your arms and point them straight up to the ceiling.
• Straighten your left leg and bring it closer to the floor without letting it touch the ground. Simultaneously, extend your right arm backwards toward the floor, again without letting it touch the ground.
• Bring your arm and leg back to the starting position and repeat with the other sides.

Wood chop

If you’re at a more advanced fitness level, you can make this ab exercise more difficult by using a light dumbbell for added resistance and weight.

• Start with your feet hip-width apart in a standing position.
• Clasp your hands together (or hold your dumbbell if using one). Rotate your torso to the right and raise your hands over your right shoulder.
• Bend your knees to come to a squatting position as you rotate your torso to the left and bring your hands across your body, until they reach below your left hip.
• Repeat 10 times and switch sides.

Anthony Byers has been Director of The Becoming Center since 2016, but he’s been a professional in the fitness industry for over 15 years.

The most rewarding part about my job is helping people become better versions of themselves.

–Anthony Byers, director of The Becoming Center

Anthony says the way he sees fitness instill confidence among members inspires him every day. “They become motivated in all aspects of life. I see fitness inspire members to become better spouses, parents, professionals, and more.”

At The Becoming Center, trainers and exercise physiologists, like Anthony, work with members to create personalized fitness routines that improve their life in so many ways. With a diverse array of programs ranging from strength exercises, to balance, stretching, and more, The Becoming Center helps adults of all ages become stronger and healthier every day.