Very interesting site about strengthening the ab muscle responible for holding in your gut.

[AllyCat]

3. Crunches, from yoga wisdom, strengthens the psoas, making it bigger

and making your abdomen look bigger. My Pilates instructor has us work with a slightly flat blown up ball under our backs to make balance part of the ab equation. She says there are 34 muscles that attach spine, ribs, and hips and the average person uses about 4 or 6 of them in normal activities. Accessing all 34 takes time, focus, and perseverance. We do plank quite a bit in yoga and Pilates. It's really tough down on the forearms too.

Thanks for posting this! Stronger abs mean less or no back pain!