The 15 Best Abs Exercises Of All Time Prepare to transform your core T here is SO much more to your core than having six-pack abs. Want to squat heavy? You need a strong core. Want to improve your balance? You guessed it: strong core. Whatever your goals are, though, getting there means incorporating the best-of-the-best abs exercises into your routine. Technically, your core consists of all of the muscles between your chest and your hips. However, you’ve probably heard the most about your rectus abdominis (a.k.a. your six-pack muscles, which run down the front of your stomach), transverse abdominis (deep abs muscles that wrap around your stomach like a corset), and obliques (a.k.a. side abs, which help you rotate). A solid abs workout incorporates moves that fire up all of these major muscles—and particularly exercises that work them all at the SAME time, like deadbugs, hollow holds, and side planks. It makes sense: If you want to see major results, you have ...