If you are pregnant, Morton urges you to talk with your doctor before trying a new exercise program.
“People don’t realize that when you do this exercise, you are subconsciously lifting your shoulders up, and that puts pressure on the neck, creating more tension,” Gleyzer says. Those with serious back issues, such as a herniated disk, or neck issues should also consider skipping this move, as it may push your body more out of alignment.
Those who should avoid this move altogether? Anyone suffering from abdominal wall hernia, according to Morton. If you are feeling short of breath or experiencing pain, he says, stop. By doing that you are actually firing up your stomach muscles.” Who Should Try (and Who Should Avoid) the Stomach Vacuum Exerciseįor the most part, the stomach vacuum is totally safe, according to Dr. While it does strengthen abdominal muscles, she says: “If you want to burn belly fat, you need to do isolated contracting stomach exercises like crunches or sit-ups. Gleyzer cautions that the stomach vacuum is likely not an instant fix for losing belly fat and slimming your waistline. The exercise, which targets core abdominal muscles and uses isometric techniques, can indeed help with posture and core strength, especially the core abdominal wall muscles, says John Morton, MD, MPH, a bariatric surgeon at Yale Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. This might feel like a less-grueling workout to some people, she says. “A lot of people don’t want to put in the work of doing sit-ups or crunches,” Gleyzer points out. And it’s an appealing alternative to traditional ab workouts. It is also part of qigong, the Chinese medicine practice that uses deep breathing to optimize health.īut Gleyzer says she’s not surprised that with the addition of a new, catchier name and the promise of a shortcut to achieving flat abs, the exercise has garnered attention. “People have been doing this type of breathing exercise for hundreds of years, specifically in the kundalini yoga practice,” she says. In spite of its recent surge in popularity, the exercise is nothing new, says Nonna Gleyzer, a Pilates instructor in Beverly Hills, California. She adds that the technique is used in physical therapy, and “is safe, effective, and has a lot of research to support it.” What Experts Are Saying About the Stomach Vacuum