For some sadistic reason, corsets have been popular undergarments numerous times over the course of human history, with the most recent iterations lacing up in front or in back with the goal of cinching the waistline into an impossibly small circumference. This craze forced all manner of bodies into a faux-yet-fashionable hourglass silhouette that restricted circulation and breathing mechanics so much that a piece of furniture was created to accompany the trend — the fainting couch.

Today, you can get those same corset-like results — without the resultant fainting problems — through dedicated core training and, of course, a clean and nutritious diet. One of the best ways to engage all your core musculature at once is by using a stability ball. You’ll fire up those deep abdominal muscles as well as any stabilizing muscles needed to hold the ball in place while you perform the exercise at hand. Sprinkle these moves into your regularly scheduled programming, or choose three to use in place of your regular abdominal work. With practice, these moves are a cinch!

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