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Strengthen Your Abs and Build Your Core Without Boring Ab Exercises
Build great ab and core strength without doing any ab exercises.

By Elizabeth Quinn, About.com

Updated April 24, 2009

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

You can build a great six-pack without doing boring ab exercises. Choose sports that engage the core and you will build a strong, sexy mid-section naturally.

Sports that require a coordinated movement of the upper body and lower body or torso rotation, naturally engage the core muscles and stabilize the torso, which is essential for generating power and force in the extremities. For a strong, powerful core, simply choose sports that naturally engage both the upper and lower body in powerful, repetitive movements.

Here a few of the best sports for getting six-pack abs naturally:

1. Gymnastics

GymnastElie Bernager / Getty Images
The rings just may be the ultimate ab exercise, but all gymnastic moves and all gymnasts have amazing core strength.

2. Volleyball

Volleyball Player Kerri WalshNick Laham / Getty Images
Spiking, digging and blocking a volley ball in mid-flight works the core and abs in a variety of dynamic moves.

3. Kayaking

KayakingJulian Finney / Getty Images
The abdominal rotation and powerful paddle motion builds abs and core strength as well as back, chest and shoulders.

4. Skate Skiing

Skate SkiingAgence Zoom / Getty Images
Cross country skate skiing not only builds incredible cardiovascular endurance while burining hundred's of calories and hour, but you'll get an incredible core and upper body workout at the same time.

5. Yoga

Yoga for Strong AbsChristoph Wilhelm / Getty Images
Static poses and lots of Sun Salutations (think of the plank exercise and numerous push ups) will give you a solid foundation of core strength, great balance and relaxed, deep and rhythmic breath.

6. Sprinting

SprintingMark Dadswell / Getty Images
Sprinting requires powerful, pumping of the arms and legs in a coordinated, rhythmic motion. Over time sprint practice will lead to a strong, powerful core.

7. Soccer

Pro Soccer Player David BeckhamClive Rose / Getty Images
David Beckham's six-pack gives you an idea of just how good soccer is as an ab workout. Kicking and heading a soccer ball requires a coordinated and powerful contraction of the upper and lower body.

8. Swimming

Swimmer stretchingQuinn Rooney / Getty Images
Just imagine trying to swim without contracting your abs. It might look a lot like a toddler trying to swim with arms and legs flaying about slapping the water. It takes a strong torso to swim effectively.
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