If you want to build a strong core, try this 10-minute Pilates routine
I’ve been trying to strengthen my core lately, to see if it will alleviate the aches and pains I get after sitting at my desk all day.
Specifically, I've been trying to do deep core workouts, which target the obliques, the hips and the lower back, as well as the abdominal muscles.
Physiotherapist and Pilates instructor Lilly Sabri recently shared a 10-minute workout designed to target these muscles, so I thought I'd give it a go.
It's a Pilates-style workout, a type of exercise that involves small, controlled movements that build strength as well as improve your coordination and posture.
Most of the exercises in this routine are done from a seated or lying down position, which means they're generally accessible and suited for beginners, but they still pack a punch.
I'm used to full-body dumbbell workouts, so I'm always surprised by how challenging bodyweight Pilates routines can be. This routine had my abs burning within the first few minutes.
There's no rest in this workout, which means the core muscles are constantly contracted, helping to challenge and strengthen your muscles. I did take a few 10-second breaks to allow my muscles to recover, but I still pushed myself with a solid 10 minutes of dedicated core work.
The routine targeted a range of muscles in the deep core, including the side-lying obliques and the lower abdominals. Some of the seated movements that were done while leaning back also engaged my hip flexors, another part of the deep core I'm trying to strengthen.
This is definitely a routine I'll come back to regularly to help me build strength in the deep core and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to diversify their strength workouts.
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Alice Porter is a freelance journalist covering lifestyle topics including health, fitness and wellness. She is particularly interested in women's health, strength training and fitness trends and writes for publications including Stylist Magazine, Refinery29, The Independent and Glamour Magazine. Like many other people, Alice's personal interest in combining HIIT training with strength work quickly turned into a CrossFit obsession and she trains at a box in south London. When she's not throwing weights around or attempting handstand push-ups, you can probably find her on long walks in nature, buried in a book or hopping on a flight to just about anywhere it will take her.
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