Whether you’re a girl or a boy, who doesn’t want those enviable, washboard six-pack abs? But let’s face it – no matter how much we want them – sit ups are just not easy to do. So when someone tells you about a quick new fix, that only takes about 5 minutes each day and involves a towel – one can imagine why the internet would go into a frenzy over this revelation.
What is this exercise?
The Japanese “exercise” involves lying on the floor and placing a rolled-up towel under your lower back. In this position, extend your arms and legs away from your body, pointing your toes inward so that they touch. Then, you touch your pinky fingers together and place your palms on the floor. Next, you lay on the floor for five minutes. And next, you…get up because your exercise is complete. Supposedly, doing this exercise once per day for 10 days will give you the flat stomach of your dreams.
Does it really work?
This move actually came from a Japanese chiropractor and reflexology and massage specialist, Dr. Toshiki Fukutsudzi, who came up with this stretch in order to help with lower back pain and overcoming bad posture by fixing your spinal alignment.
Fukutsudzi did also claim that this position could help you lose weight by correcting the placement of the pelvis, which experts have said is not true. While the trick could potentially counteract a problematic forward pelvic tuck posture, the other claims are not supported. Used in other ways, a towel can also be an incredible replacement if you don’t have exercise equipment at home and help you up the intensity of your workout, which should help in your weight loss journey.
However, the exercise itself won’t give you a six-pack. With abs especially, there is no shortcut and unless you are genetically gifted with perfect abs, you are going to have to work for them.