Reverse Crunch: Lie flat on the floor with a neutral spine, with knees at a 90-degree angle, feet a few

inches off the floor and legs together, hands by your sides (behind your ears if you're more experienced). Focus on contracting your abdominals to lift your hips up and in toward your rib case. Exhale as you contract; inhale to return to starting position. Done correctly, this exercise isolates the lower half of the rectus abdominis and the transverus. Bent-Elbow Plank: This exercise works the whole trunk, particularly the transversus abdominis. Start by lying on your belly and then lift yourself up onto your toes and forearms (elbows in line with shoulders) while contracting your abdominals and keeping your back neutral. Hold that position for five seconds, then rest and repeat. Ultimately, strive to hold the pose for 90 seconds without any rest -- for one set. If you're more experienced, you can also do this exercise on your hands and toes. (As a beginner, start on your hands and knees with a neutral spine and simply contract the abdominals on an exhale without moving your back.) Bicycle: This exercise works your obliques as well as your rectus abdominis. Lie on your back, hips and knees bent at 90-degrees, chest curled over ribs, hands behind your head. Extend the left leg out while bringing the right knee in towards the chest and rotating the left shoulder toward the right knee. Keep the arm from crossing the face. Rotate from the trunk through the center to the other side without dropping your chest. Move in slow, controlled movements without shifting your hips. If you perform these exercises consistently, says Calabrese, you will notice a significant difference in the strength and tone of your entire torso within six weeks. "Be consistent," she says. "Be patient and believe a flat stomach is possible." Canoe Twist: Stand upright, feet apart. Interlace all 10 fingers to the webbing of your hands to create a solid grip. Exhale, and sweep the interlocked hands, arms, shoulders, and chest to the left, as if "rowing a canoe." Simultaneously lift the left knee up and to the right. Inhale and return to the starting position. Exhale and perform the movement to the right. Alternate for 20 repetitions. Cat Kick: Stand with feet together, arms extended out like airplane wings. Exhale, and lift the right leg forward and up. At the same time, sweep the arms forward at shoulder level and round the spine, like a cat. The navel should feel as though it's pressing toward the spine. Inhale, and open back up and return to the starting position. Repeat with the left leg, alternating for 20 repetitions. Pilates Zip Up: Stand upright with the heels together, toes slightly turned out. Bring the arms up, into an "upright row" position, hands just underneath the chin. Exhale, press the arms down (as if pressing down on a box of dynamite), keeping the hands and arms very close to the body. Simultaneously, lift your heels off the ground onto your tiptoes. Hold for two seconds at the "top" and inhale and return to the starting position. The abs go "in and up" and the arms go down. Perform 20 repetitions.

BASIC STRETCHES
PRONE ON ELBOWS

Lie on your stomach with your feet together. Rest on your forearms with your elbows directly under your shoulders. Relax lower back and abdomen into floor. Hold for 30-60 seconds or until muscles feel looser. Repeat on opposite side.
SUPINE LUMBAR ROTATION

Lie on your back with your knees bent. Keeping your knees together and your shoulders against the floor, roll your knees to one side until you feel a stretch in your back or hip. Hold for 30-60 seconds or until muscles feel looser.
KNEES TO CHEST

Lie on your back. Bend your knees, and lift your feet off the floor. Grasp your knees with your arms and pull your knees toward your chest. Hold for 20 seconds. Repeat three to five times.
CAT AND CAMEL

Begin on your hands and knees. Round your back by contracting your abdominals and tucking your pelvis. Then allow your back to sag toward the floor as you lift your chest forward. Hold briefly. Repeat three to five times.
CERVICAL SIDE BENDS

Tilt your head gently toward one shoulder, keeping your shoulders level and your face pointed straight ahead. Hold for five seconds, then tilt your head toward the other shoulder and hold for five seconds. Repeat five times on each side.
SHOULDER CIRCLES

In a smooth, continuous motion, make a circle with your shoulders: Raise them up toward your ears, pull them together behind you, lower them to a resting position, then roll them forward. Repeat 10 times.
WRIST FLEXOR

Extend your right arm in front of you, palm down, elbow straight. Point your fingertips toward the floor by bending at the wrist. Using your left hand, pull your right palm toward you gently. Hold for 20 seconds; repeat three to five times with each arm.
WRIST EXTENSOR

Extend your right arm in front of you with your palm up and your elbow straight. Point your fingertips toward the floor by bending at the wrist. Using your left hand, pull the back of your right hand toward you gently. Hold for 20 seconds; repeat three to five times with each arm.
TRICEPS STRETCH

Place your right hand behind your head, palm facing your head. With your left hand, grasp your right elbow and pull downward until you feel a stretch in the back of your right arm. Hold for 20 seconds; repeat three to five times with each arm.
ONE-ARM PECTORALIS STRETCH

Stand against an immobile structure like a wall or a tree. While facing the wall, raise your right hand out to your side at chest height, palm against the wall. Turn your body toward the left, away from the wall and your extended arm, until you feel a stretch. Hold for 20 seconds; repeat three to five times with each arm.
PIRIFORMIS STRETCH

Lie on your back. Bend your left knee and lift it halfway to your chest. Grasp your knee with your right hand and pull it toward your right shoulder, keeping both buttocks against the floor. Hold for 20 seconds; repeat three to five times with each leg.
GROIN (ADDUCTORS) STRETCH

Sitting with your back straight, bring the soles of your feet together. Let your knees lower toward the floor. Hold for 30-60 seconds or until muscles feel looser.
STANDING QUADRICEPS STRETCH

Steady yourself with one hand. With the other, grab outside leg at the ankle, keeping body straight from knee to hip. Gently pull foot up and towards the buttocks until you feel a stretch along the front of thigh. Thigh should be pulled straight back and not drift to outside. Hold 20-30 seconds. For variation, grab opposite ankle (i.e., grab right ankle with left hand). Do two to three repetitions per leg.
CALF STRETCH

Face a solid structure such as a wall with your right foot ahead of your left, toes straight ahead. Bend your right knee, press your hips forward, and lean into the wall. Keep both heels down, your left leg straight, and your right knee over your ankle. Hold for 20 seconds; repeat three to five times with each leg.
ACHILLES STRETCH

Face the wall with your right foot ahead of your left, toes straight ahead. Bend both knees, press your hips forward, and lean into the wall. Keep both heels down and both knees in line with your feet. Hold for 20 seconds; repeat three to five times with each leg.