Transverse abdominal muscle exercises or the core muscles are a group of muscles which lie below the rectus abdominus. In most stomach exercise routines, these are taken for granted—even doing crunches has nothing to do with it.

As a matter of fact, this group of muscles is the most significant to target as they are concerned with the entire abdomen. To be fruitful in flattening out the stomach, perform exercises that focus on the transverse abdominals. The following are such exercises. As with any workout routine, it is best to consult a professional first and never forget to warm up.

1. Pelvic Tilts

Begin by lying on a flat surface, such as the floor or a bench. Make use of a mat or towel to support your spine. Bend your knees allowing your feet to lay flat on the floor, and then raise your pelvis (exclusively) off the floor, hold momentarily, and then return to initial position. Repeat for an entire set. It’s very important to keep your movement controlled in this exercise. Furthermore, remember that you must keep your upper body lying on the floor all throughout.

2. Crunchless Crunch

Now this may sound simple and easy, but it does require a fair amount of effort. First off, you begin by lying either on your stomach, or by kneeling down. Relax your body, and then use your lower abdominals to pull your belly button towards your spine. Hold this for ten seconds. If you feel that you can hold it longer, do so. The main objective is to hold the contraction until you cannot feel it, or until you feel other muscles working harder than the transverse abdominus. When this happens, you can now release the contraction.

3. Scissor Kicks

Again, you will have to lie on the floor. Place your hands underneath your buttocks to keep your back flat on the floor. Slowly raise one leg to a height of approximately ten inches, and then slowly lower it back to the floor. As you lower one leg, raise the other. Do this motion for an entire set. It is crucial to maintain your control in this exercise. And remember to keep your upper body on the floor the whole time.

These are only three of several other muscle exercises for the transverse abdominals. These will be a great start. Such exercises are excellent for tummy flattening, and they are especially good for women who have recently given birth.