Shona Vertue: David Beckham’s personal trainer shares the ‘spicy’ ab workout you can do at home

The Australian personal trainer credited with getting footballer David Beckham into yoga has shared the ‘spicy’ ab workout she swears by for a toned and ripped physique.

Elite gymnast Shona Vertue, who is from Sydney but lives in London, said you should never ‘neglect your oblique muscles’ if you want to get in shape.

The external oblique muscle is one of the outermost abdominal muscles, extending from the lower half of the ribs around and down to the pelvis.

‘Save this spicy ab workout and don’t neglect your obliques,’ Shona said in an Instagram video showing the workout you can perform at home in your living room.

To try the workout for yourself, the PT said all you’ll need is a sofa or something similar to hold onto and a workout mat so you can perform the moves on the floor.

The first move involves you lying on your back with your hands holding on to the legs of the sofa.

You then perform reverse crunches by lifting your legs and back off the floor, before dipping and rising again. Do this move 30 times.

‘This move targets your rectus abdominus and obliques,’ Shona said.

This means it gets into your deep core muscles, which is where you will get visible abs.

To try the workout for yourself, the PT said all you’ll need is a sofa or something similar to hold onto and a workout mat so you can perform the moves on the floor (moves pictured)

The second move involves the same set-up, but then you just rotate your legs in a circle top to bottom in a move that’s called ’round the world’.

‘These also help with V-ups and hanging leg raises,’ Shona said.

Again, repeat the move 30 times, then rest and repeat the entire circuit. 

‘When performing either of these, your lats may try to take over,’ she said.

‘You can compensate for this by simultaneously pushing away from the couch, trying to keep your armpits open – I know that sounds weird, but try it and let me know how it goes.’ 

Shona (pictured) previously said she sees too many fitness coaches telling the people they are training that they need to ‘earn their food’, ‘detox’ or ‘stop being lazy’

Thousands who saw Shona’s video were impressed with it, and said they would definitely try it at home.

‘I really love the first one! I can feel my side abs are working!!’ one person commented. 

‘Definitely doing these tomorrow,’ another added.

A third wrote: ‘Killer workout with killer view’.

‘Many people fall into the trap of working on the things they’re good at and neglecting the things their body really needs,’ she told FEMAIL

Shona (pictured) recommends viewing ‘food as fuel’, and thinking about what is ‘going to best nourish your body, mind and soul for the day ahead of you’

Previously, Shona shared the three things she would never say to a client at the gym if they’re looking for results.

She said she sees too many fitness coaches telling the people they are training that they need to ‘earn their food’, ‘detox’ or ‘stop being lazy’.  

These phrases are all harmful and detrimental to success.   

Shona also told Daily Mail Australia what many get wrong with their workouts. 

‘Many people fall into the trap of working on the things they’re good at and neglecting the things their body really needs,’ she told FEMAIL.

‘I’ve met numerous people that can run marathons but could barely get through an easy weight lifting session. Likewise, I’ve met bodybuilders who are strong, but have no agility and can hardly move.’

Shona recommends viewing ‘food as fuel’, and thinking about what is ‘going to best nourish your body, mind and soul for the day ahead of you’:

‘Most of the time, this might come from a massive plate of vegetables, with some protein – however, on other times – when the soul needs some nourishment – you might need a warm pain au chocolat or an Old Fashioned,’ she said.

But we shouldn’t deprive ourselves of things when we need them, because if ‘we don’t let ourselves have those soul nourishing moments, they build up and then end up in the binge and restrict cycle’.

Shona’s own gym routine involves daily meditation before she has a coffee, weight lifting four times a week, high intensity cardio twice a week and a short sequence of yoga or gymnastics each night before bed.