How to Strengthen the Most Important Ab Muscle, the Transverse Abdominis (TVA)

Your fitness routine may be ignoring the most important ab muscle, the transverse abdominis. In this video, learn how to strengthen the TVA muscle with three simple exercises: TVA Counting, Knee Hovers, and Bird Dogs. You can think of TVA Counting as what happens when you turn breathing into a workout – upon activating the deep lower abdominal muscles, slowly breathe and count to 10. Knee Hovers and Bird Dogs, however, start on all fours – for the first, lift and hover your knees up off the mat; for the second, reach your right arm and left leg away from your body, then repeat with the opposite arm and leg.