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The 30-Minute, Pilates-inspired Abs Workout for a Solid Core

Are you hardcore? You will be soon, with this pilates-inspired workout.

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  • 30

  • 9

  • Yes

Oblique Twist Curl
Jay Sullivan
Oblique Twist Curl
Jay Sullivan

The term core describes all the muscles in your torso, including your chest, shoulders, lats, midback, glutes, lower back, abs, and obliques. The problem is, women tend to work this area sporadically and only on one plane. (Think forward and back with crunches.) But powerful cores are built using four categories of movements, including front (anterior), lateral, rotational, and back (posterior) core exercises. And pilates, whether on the Reformer or on the mat, is renowned for doing just that.

We asked the mother-daughter team behind Hillard Studio Method, a Pilates-based training studio based in Charlotte, NC, to whip up a waist-whittling workout that will supercharge your midsection with each and every move, giving your core the attention it deserves so you can get sleek, defined, and stronger than ever. 

How to do it

Perform the following exercises as a circuit, completing one set of a move before going on to the next. (The end of one move will feed into the next.) Repeat circuit three to four times.

Routine

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30-Minute Abs Workout

Exercise
Equipment
Sets
Reps
Rest
Exercise 7 of 9

Superman

Equipment
Weight Plates
Sets
--
Reps
10
Rest
--
How to
Exercise 9 of 9

Plank Knee Bend

Equipment
Medicine Ball
Sets
--
Reps
10*
Rest
--
How to
*10x slow, 10x fast, hold plank for 30-60 seconds
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