Half Curl

The Half Curl may sound a lot like a weight lifting exercise, but it’s actually a well known variation of a Pilates move designed to work the core. Pilates was originally developed by Joseph Pilates, who developed this system to tone and strengthen the abs, believing that having a tight core translated into good health. In the last decade, Pilates based workouts have become very popular with beginners and more advanced fitness enthusiasts when it comes to getting rid of stomach fat and toning the entire body.

Some of the moves used in Pilates, like the Half Curl, have become standards in home and gym based workouts. Some of the other more popular Pilates based core training exercises include the Supine Stretch, the Hundred, Swimming, and the Plank. That said, the Half Curl is used in Pilates to work the core and educate students on how to engage their core muscles properly, so they can actually feel when they are doing an ab exercise correctly, or incorrectly, so they can self correct. It’s also used as a core training and strengthening tool by fitness instructors and personal trainers, who often suggest that this exercise can also provide users with stronger lower back muscles, which may circumvent or ease certain back issues.

While you can visit a class or have a session with a fitness or Pilates instructor to learn how to do the this exercise and other exercises, it’s relatively easy to do. Once you have your mat unrolled and flat on the floor, you can lie down on it with knees bent and the soles of your feet flat on the ground. The palms of your hands are then positioned on your thighs, and you begin contracting your abdominal muscles as you roll up into a curl, moving your hands as you go.

Once your fingertips hit your knees, you begin to lower back down until you reach the floor. When you are curling up, breathe out, and when you’re curling back down, breathe in. It’s also important to remember that while you’re doing this exercise you need to keep you head up and don’t tuck your chin into your chest, as you may well be tempted to do.

As we saw, the Half Curl is relatively easy to do, and all you need is a mat and some willingness, which is why it’s often included in the more popular stomach fat workout programs. It’s also often used along with a healthy diet and other kinds of workout modalities to achieve toning results.