Today’s Workout 118: The Swiss ball circuit to forge your core

No, that Swiss ball lying in the corner of your gym isn’t just for stretching—or sitting on while you have a pre-workout chat with one of your buddies. When used properly, the Swiss ball (aka physio ball) can help you attack your core muscles by challenging your stability in ways that’ll build strength, muscle, and definition—just as in this five-move routine.

You’ll do six back-to-back rounds of moves that all utilize a Swiss ball—pushups, leg raises, plank circles, and wipers—and cap things off with a set of traditional pushups for an upper-body finisher.

Directions

You’ll do this workout as a circuit, meaning you’ll complete each exercise consecutively without rest. Once you’ve finished all exercises, rest for 30 to 60 seconds. Repeat the entire circuit for four to six rounds.

Depending upon your ability, you may shorten or lengthen the rest periods between circuits. You may also complete more or fewer rounds.

For more abs work:

Check out our favorite 20-minute workout routine to get hard ‘core’ abs, our 15-minute HIIT workout to target abs, and our 30 best abs exercises of all time.

For a complete archive of our daily quick-hit routines, go to mensfitness.com/todaysworkout.