Core Exercise: Snowball/Snow Angel

It may sound like something you do in the winter, but the snowball/snow angel exercise is actually a great core exercise you can do any time to work your abs! In this quick video, Lindsey Bomgren demonstrates how to perform this move that you can perform on a mat or the floor with no equipment necessary. If you’re sick of doing countless crunches to work your abs, try this fun core exercise instead to engage your abs while also waking up your arms and legs.

To start, you’ll roll all the way down onto your back and pretend like you’re making a snow angel on the ground. You’ll stretch your limbs nice and wide, with your arms and legs slightly off the ground. Next, you’re going to roll up into what you’ll call the “snowball,” a modified boat pose. The goal throughout this exercise is to go slow and controlled, keeping your chest lifted and your core pulled back. This core exercise is not a speed game; in fact, the slower you go, the more thoroughly you’ll engage those ab muscles and really start to feel the burn.

Bodyweight exercises like this one are great to learn because you can incorporate them into your workouts seamlessly without the need for additional equipment. Bodyweight exercises are also some of the most effective around, and allow you to challenge yourself by strengthening your muscles with different ranges of motion than just back and forth when using weights.

Keep your abs engaged throughout the entire Snow Ball/Snow Angel, and remember to keep your movements slow and controlled. As you roll down and extend your limbs long, your core isn’t the only thing you’re engaging! Your quads and arms will also play a part, making this core exercise a move that actually benefits your whole body.

All exercises you perform are your own responsibility and you perform them at your own risk. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider before starting any physical exercise, fitness or wellness regiments of any kind.