Alaya F needs no introduction when it comes to her fitness routine and her dedication towards it. The Freddy actor was recently seen working out on her abs with fitness trainer Anushka Nandani Sawhney. Dressed in a lilac sports bra with matching shorts and white sport shoes in a no-makeup look and high-braided ponytail, Alaya wrote, "My new favourite ab exercise". She also tagged her trainer ‘@anushkanandani. Scroll down to see a glimpse from her intense workout. Notably, as abs or abdominal muscles are part of your core that includes your pelvic muscles, hips and the muscles that support the spine, experts urge that the benefits of abs extend to daily function, sports, performance as well as physical health. In the video shared on Instagram Stories, Alaya can be seen doing double crunches with dumbbells and ankle weights. For the unversed, the combination essentially increase the intensity of the exercise, which can lead to greater strength gains over time. "These weights add an extra challenge to multiple muscles like rectus abdominis (the 'six-pack' muscle), obliques, hip flexors, and even the lower back to some extent. Holding dumbbells also engage your triceps, serratus anterior, and latissimus dorsi," elaborated Varun Rattan, co-founder, The Body Science Academy. How to perform the exercise? *To perform this exercise, start by lying flat on your back on a mat. *Hold a dumbbell in each hand and strap ankle weights for added resistance. *Hold the dumbbells above your head, keeping the elbows straight. *Your legs should also be straight, with your heels about a foot off the ground. *Raise your legs while bending your knees at the same time. Crunch your upper and lower body, bringing your elbows and knees together. *Lower your body back to the starting position. That's one rep. *Aim for 2 to 3 sets of 12 - 15 repetitions, taking a 1-2 minute rest between sets. "The movements should be controlled to maximise muscle engagement. This exercise is intense; listen to your body and only add weights that you're comfortable with," urged Rattan. 📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don't miss out on the latest updates!
