Core Sliders, Resistance Band, Ab Wheel—3 Killer Tools To Get The Abs Of Your Dreams At Home
Here’s how you can use Manila Athletica’s personal fitness equipment for tighter and more sculpted abs
There are two important elements to achieving flat and sculpted abs that you can flaunt in your next bikini OOTD: a good, healthy diet and a solid core workout. Diet alone can help you shed off some fat around the tummy area, but to get that beautifully sculpted abs—and for overall health, as well—introducing core workouts into your routine is super important.
There are many kinds of exercises that you can do at home—yoga, pilates, jump rope—but not all of them will specifically target your core area. Also, some of the most popular core exercises like planking can be a bore to do.
For optimal results, mix-up your exercises by introducing some personal fitness equipment that will help you explore more moves and routines.
Manila Athletica is an online fitness store that offers affordable but quality personal fitness equipment. The owner, Aencille Santos, is a fitness and weightlifting enthusiast herself, so you can trust that she only chooses equipment for Manila Athletica that she herself will want to use.
She shares three of the most hardworking equipment she has for the core, and what exercises you can do with each equipment to achieve the abs of your dreams.
Core sliders are some of the most unassuming of personal fitness equipment, but they’re also some of the most effective in increasing the intensity of your workout. One side of the slider is grippy for your hands or feet, and one side glides easily on the floor to create what’s called an “instability surface,” which forces you to engage your muscles the whole time.
Core sliders are also some of the best equipment for low- to no-impact workout. This means you can level up your workout using only your body weight, without the need for additional weights. At Manila Athletica, they come in four eye-catching candy colors—lemon yellow, classic grey, strawberry pink, and mint blue—which don’t just look aesthetic, but will also motivate you to workout.
Get Manila Athletica’s Candy Core Sliders here.
Summer Rainbow Bands
The best thing about resistance bands is how effective it is an overall core strengthening equipment. The thing about abs is that you don’t just simply work out to achieve abs; sculpted abs are just an effect of a strong and solid core. And when you want to work your core, you’re not just going to be working your belly. The core includes a whole set of muscles that wrap around the front, back, and sides of your abdominal area, as well as your hip, glute, and pelvic muscles. And doing resistance exercises with a resistance band is very efficient in targeting all of these muscle groups.
What we love about Manila Athletica’s Summer Rainbow Bands is that instead of the usual slippery and sticky latex, it’s made with an inner rubber anti-slip feature that will latch on to your legs during workout. They come in three strength variations to match your strength and workout needs—light at 25-35 lbs, medium at 40-50 lbs, and heavy at 45-70 lbs—and in beautiful summer gradient colors for your workout OOTDs.
Get Manila Athletica’s Summer Rainbow Bands which are currently on sale here.
Basic Ab Wheel
The Ab Wheel is one of the most classic exercise equipment and really, it does what its name suggests: work on your abdominal muscles. What makes the Ab Wheel a one-of-a-kind equipment is that it trains what is called “anti-extension.” Anti-is what keeps you from overarching your back, which protects your spine and builds shoulder mobility.
For an affordable but durable ab wheel, check out Manila Athletica’s Ab Wheel here.
Core exercises
Core exercises
2 Single-Arm Wheelbarrow with Core Sliders
Get into a kneeling push-up position (or a standard push-up position if you love a challenge). With the core sliders on your palms, slowly slide your right hand to the front as far as you can while keeping the right elbow straight. At the same time, the left elbow should bend, as if you’re doing a push up. Pull the right hand back to starting position and repeat on the other side. Pro tip: If you feel the tension breaking in your core and arms, scale down by minimizing the movement based on your tolerance.
Photo Credit: Katie Thompson/Self
Mountain Climbers with Core Sliders
Begin with a push-up position. Keep your arms straight and core engaged, allowing your body to be in a stable straight line. With each slider on your feet, bring the left knee towards the left side of your chest. Go back to the push up position and repeat on the other side. This will keep your arms, core, and legs burning if you do it intensely for a hot minute. Pro tip: Avoid rounding your back at all costs to avoid strains. Keep your back flat by tucking in your tailbone.
Photo Credit: Very Well Fit
Slider Plank to Pike with Core Sliders
Get into a push-up position with your hands shoulder-width apart, wrists and shoulders stacked. To start, squeeze your glutes and core and slide both your feet towards your hands, allowing your thighs to get as close to your chest and your butt towards the ceiling. Return to starting position. Pro tip: Don’t worry if your thighs don’t reach your chest. As long as you reach your maximum range of motion, that works just as fine.
Photo Credit: Katie Thompson/Self
Bicycle Crunch with Resistance Band
Sitting down, loop a medium or heavy resistance band around your feet. Start with your knees bent and heels on the floor. Lean back to 45 degrees or until your core is engaged. Place your arms open on either side of the head. Using your core, rotate at the waist, with one elbow touching the opposite knee. Twist the other way to replicate on the other side, and continue to alternate. Pro tip: Slide your upper body higher to make this move easier, and slide it down lower to make it harder.
Photo Credit: Greatist
Hip Thrust with Resistance Band
Lie down facing up and bring your feet closer to your butt, knees pointing upwards. Place the resistance band above your knees and put your arms by your side. Lift your hips as high as possible, keeping your upper body relaxed and glutes squeezed. Hold for a few seconds and lower down. Pro tip: to make this exercise harder, lift both heels or toes, instead of doing it with your feet flat on the floor.
Photo Credit: Atemi-Sports
Russian Twist with Resistance Band
Begin in a seated position with your knees bent and heels touching the ground. Put the resistance band around your thighs and grab a hold of one end with your hands. Engage and twist to one side, pulling the resistance band as you go. Twist and repeat on the other side. Pro tip: Just like the bicycle crunch, you can slide your upper body higher to make this move easier, or go lower to make it harder.
Photo Credit: MBG Movement
Kneeling Roll Out with Ab Wheel
Place your knees on the ground and place the ab wheel in front of you. Place a hand on each handle and keep your arms straight. Roll out as far as possible without arching your back, and then roll back to starting position. As much as possible, keep your torso straight.
Photo Credit: Westend61/Getty Images
Visit Manila Athletica's Instagram page at @manila.athletica or check out their online store at Manilaathletica.com
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