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Views on the Reebok Abs mat ?
- Thread starter Bernard
- Start date
I did yoga and pilates for a while and having worked out at home (I work out on carpet) I have never needed to invest in such a mat. If you are on hard wood floors try a yoga mat or a mat with extra cushioning, a really good ab workout vid will challenge you enough to make the handles unnessary.
I haven't tried Reebok mat it could be worthwhile otherwise anything which supports your back whilst doing floor work I imagine will do.
Babs
I haven't tried Reebok mat it could be worthwhile otherwise anything which supports your back whilst doing floor work I imagine will do.
Babs
Hi Babs,
I already own a Reebok stretch mat, which I love for my poor knees, I just wish it was wider ! I think the purpose of this new Reebok abs mat is to take the pressure off the neck and shoulders.
I know I do my ab crunches properly, because I press my lower back into the floor and come up using my abs, and I always imagine I have a squashy tomato in between my chin and chest but after a while I still get a tired neck and shoulders, is this just normal fatigue ? and if so does that get better the stronger your abs become ? Or am I still doing something wrong ? Should I feel a failure because my neck is fatiguing and therefore have to stop for a rest ? I always do !
I don't know about you Babs, but that is why I love Pilates for ab work, because I don't seem to get a tired neck area when I do those ?
Anna
I already own a Reebok stretch mat, which I love for my poor knees, I just wish it was wider ! I think the purpose of this new Reebok abs mat is to take the pressure off the neck and shoulders.
I know I do my ab crunches properly, because I press my lower back into the floor and come up using my abs, and I always imagine I have a squashy tomato in between my chin and chest but after a while I still get a tired neck and shoulders, is this just normal fatigue ? and if so does that get better the stronger your abs become ? Or am I still doing something wrong ? Should I feel a failure because my neck is fatiguing and therefore have to stop for a rest ? I always do !
I don't know about you Babs, but that is why I love Pilates for ab work, because I don't seem to get a tired neck area when I do those ?
Anna
Yes I do get very tired in my neck area doing my abs since I started working out what some 5 years now and it has not changed. I agree with Pilates has helped, I have a Jennifer Kries Method tape and she does these abs exercises and between sets she does this really neat neck stretch and it helps alot.
I try to focus on just above my knees or directly ahead and keep it that way and keep the weight off my hands to make sure my neck is in enlightment. I think my tendency is to roll my head forward when I do crunches so I have to keep reminding myself to bring my head back.
Don't feel a failure it takes a while for your abs to grow stronger I often think of the abs as layered and when one layer gets stronger another layer kicks in and you have to build up that layer and so on.
I recommend doing neck stretches before and after working your abs just copy the simple ones that Cathe does and maybe hold the stretch for a little longer. Push you shoulders down throughout the day to stop hunching them (again something I do a lot) I get a lot of tension headaches so I rotate my neck and shoulder area throughout the day.
Remember just a suggestion.
Babs
I try to focus on just above my knees or directly ahead and keep it that way and keep the weight off my hands to make sure my neck is in enlightment. I think my tendency is to roll my head forward when I do crunches so I have to keep reminding myself to bring my head back.
Don't feel a failure it takes a while for your abs to grow stronger I often think of the abs as layered and when one layer gets stronger another layer kicks in and you have to build up that layer and so on.
I recommend doing neck stretches before and after working your abs just copy the simple ones that Cathe does and maybe hold the stretch for a little longer. Push you shoulders down throughout the day to stop hunching them (again something I do a lot) I get a lot of tension headaches so I rotate my neck and shoulder area throughout the day.
Remember just a suggestion.
Babs
Thanks Babs,
Your suggestions are great ! Which Jennifer Kries method tape do you own and can I order it from Collage ? I saw that Kathy Smith has a tape out called Pilates For Abs, which is 30 minutes long.
So the trick is to keep your head back and focus on a point in the room directly in front of you.
Thanks
Anna
Your suggestions are great ! Which Jennifer Kries method tape do you own and can I order it from Collage ? I saw that Kathy Smith has a tape out called Pilates For Abs, which is 30 minutes long.
So the trick is to keep your head back and focus on a point in the room directly in front of you.
Thanks
Anna
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Sep-24-02 AT 08:29AM (Est)[/font][p]Sorry for taking so long to reply but I'm at work so I had to look at her website to remember the vids I have The Method Dance to Fitness, Percision Sculpting and precision toning.
I am not using them if you would like to borrow them let me know
and we can see if we can sort something out (actually I better check I still have them there buried away somewhere)they are PAL tapes.
Yes the get make sure your neck is in enlignment pick a spot on the wall or wherever and that should ensure your head won't move.
Focus on lifting you head and shoulders off the floor but feel the movement in your abs and obliques when I started I could only lift a couple of inches off the floor without altering or pushing down my head so work from that.
The challenge is for you to work your body at what is challenging for you don't worry about how high Cathe, Kathy or Karen can lift you lift until you feel it working your abs. Also if you come up too high you bring in your hip flexors not good.
Babs
I am not using them if you would like to borrow them let me know
and we can see if we can sort something out (actually I better check I still have them there buried away somewhere)they are PAL tapes.
Yes the get make sure your neck is in enlignment pick a spot on the wall or wherever and that should ensure your head won't move.
Focus on lifting you head and shoulders off the floor but feel the movement in your abs and obliques when I started I could only lift a couple of inches off the floor without altering or pushing down my head so work from that.
The challenge is for you to work your body at what is challenging for you don't worry about how high Cathe, Kathy or Karen can lift you lift until you feel it working your abs. Also if you come up too high you bring in your hip flexors not good.
Babs