5 Minute Ab Burning Exercises With an Exercise Ball

Doing your abdominal workout with an exercise ball gives you added muscle-toning benefits -- your core muscles are engaged as you stay balanced on the ball while performing crunches and other ab-burning exercises. Having a strong core brings balance and stability to all of your day-to-day activities and workouts. There are a variety of moves that you can bust out in five minutes to develop a strong core. Mix and match to create a routine that works for you.

  1. Ball Crunch

    • Doing five minutes of crunches on a stability ball will give you a good ab-burn. Sit on a large stability ball with both feet on the floor. Walk your feet forward and lie back on the ball so that your lower back is supported and your shoulders and head are off the ball. Place your hands behind your head and contract your abdominal muscles to raise your upper torso and then slowly return to starting position and repeat. Do three sets of 25 reps with a short rest between sets.

    Ball Reverse Crunch

    • Lie on the floor or an exercise mat on your back and hold an exercise ball between your legs. Press your calves and hamstrings against the exercise ball and hold your arms straight out to your sides. Engage your core muscles and squeeze the ball with your legs. Bring the ball off the floor by slowly rolling your knees in towards your chest. Pause and hold, then slowly lower the ball back down. Do three sets of 25.

    Ball Side-Crunch

    • Lie on your side against the exercise ball with your hips and torso supported and your head and shoulders off the ball. Your feet should be wide apart on the floor to give you balance. Cross your arms across your chest and engage your core muscles as you bring your upper body up from the ball. Pause and hold and then slowly lower your body back to starting position. Alternate sides after each set for three sets of 25.

    Ball Jacknife

    • Form a plank position with your hands on the floor and your ankles resting on top of the exercise ball. Your chest should be facing the floor with your arms straight and your legs extended from your body to the ball. Engage your core muscles and keep your weight on your extended arms. Roll the ball in towards your torso by bending your knees and hips. Pause and then extend your legs back to starting position. Do three sets of 25.