Britney Spears may be touring in Hong Kong but she's not pulling the lazy card while she's on the road: The pop star recently posted a video featuring her hotel-room sweat session as proof.
Britney has previously Instagrammed snippets of her workouts. But this one is particularly abs-tastic since her belly is on full display. (THAT CORE.)
Although Britney's first move (a cross between a standing row and a curl) confounds certified strength and conditioning specialist Jake Boly — "I don't think that's even an exercise. It's not engaging anything that any form of standing row should be used for," he says — two of her moves effectively target the core. To get an A-list workout in your very own gym, try the tummy-tightening moves Britney slays before she hits the stage:
1. Swiss Ball Crunch
How to do it: Lie face-up on a Swiss ball positioned under your mid- to lower-back. Keep your feet on the floor and knees bent about 90 degrees. (Raise your heels for an extra stability challenge.) With your arms extended straight up toward the ceiling or behind your head for support, engage your core to lift your head and shoulders straight up several inches. Release with control to complete one rep. Shoot for up to three sets of 10 to 12 reps.
2. Forearm Plank Side Extension
How to do it: Get into a plank position with your forearms positioned parallel to each other on the floor and shoulders stacked over your elbows. Keep your body in a straight line from the top of your head to your heels. Without letting your hips sag toward the ground, stack your left hip on top of your right one as you raise your left arm and extend it straight up toward the ceiling. Return to starting position with control, then repeat on the opposite side to complete one rep. Perform 10 to 15 reps, then finish with a 30-second plank hold 👏 because 👏 you 👏 can.
*~Bonus~*: Wheel Pose
While this doesn't directly target your abs, it does stretch them out — but it's not for beginners, because you need upper-body strength to perform this move safely. If you're concerned, stick with a cobra stretch — lie facedown on the floor with palms under your armpits, then extend your arms and arch your back to feel the stretch in your abs.
How to do it: Come on to your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor near your butt. Raise your arms overhead and place your palms on the floor above your shoulders, fingertips facing your feet. Press into the floor as you lift your hips toward the ceiling, rising onto your tippy toes — to really feel like Britney, bitch.
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Elizabeth Narins is a Brooklyn, NY-based writer and a former senior editor at Cosmopolitan.com, where she wrote about fitness, health, and more. Follow her at @ejnarins.
