Tone your core in just 12-minutes with this standing abs workout

Little-to-no floor space is needed for this standing abs workout which will blast your core and tone your stomach

Man holding a squat
(Image credit: Getty Images)

No matter if you’re at home, in the gym, or traveling for work or play, a standing abs workout can help you get your endorphins pumping, along with toning your stomach too.

For most standing abs workouts, practically zero equipment is needed. Simply grab one of the best yoga mats to stand, one of the best water bottles for gym workouts to keep your hydration levels up, and prepare to get sweaty.  

Standing workouts are also ideal for those who are short on space, spend most of their days sitting at a computer, or if you’re recovering from an injury and unable to make it down to the floor. 

Wondering where to start? We’re taking inspiration from this 12-minute standing abs workout by fitness influencers and YouTube stars Tiff x Dan. You might not think 12 minutes is enough time to feel the burn but this workout is a form of high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

This means you’ll be moving from one cardio exercise to the next with short rest breaks in between. If you’re ready to get started, keep scrolling to find out how to complete this cardio-pumping 12-minute blast. 

Watch Tiff x Dan’s 12-minute standing abs workout

The format of this workout is pretty easy to follow. You’ll be completing one exercise for 50 seconds, followed by 10 seconds of rest to give you time to reset your position and prepare for the next move.

Dan says: “This standing abs exercise is a great way to target your core muscles and get a great workout in a short amount of time. It's also a great way to burn some calories and tone your body."

"This no-repeat workout is perfect when you want a killer core workout, but also want to burn a ton of calories at the same time – the perfect combo for toning and tightening.”

In the workout, the exercises you’ll be doing include: 

  • High knees 
  • Step back knee drive
  • Squat + alt front kick
  • Oblique twists
  • Squat twists
  • Cross punches
  • Alt knee to elbow
  • Side crunch + front kick
  • Fast trunk twists

As Dan says, all of these no-repeat exercises will help you sculpt your core. But strengthening your abs will also help you keep on top of your overall health too. From aiding good posture to promoting a healthy back, carving out a muscular core is a good idea for more reasons than one.

If you’re looking for even more ways to create muscular abs, discover the best core strengthening exercises you need to know about. Or read our comprehensive how to do a reverse crunch guide to really target your abs. 

Becks Shepherd

Becks is a freelance journalist and writer with more than 7 years of experience in the field. She writes health and lifestyle content for a range of titles including Live Science, Top Ten Reviews, Tom’s Guide, Stylist, The Independent, and more. She also ghostwrites for a number of Physiotherapists and Osteopaths. 


Health has been a big part of Becks’ lifestyle since time began. When she’s not writing about the topic of health, she’s in the gym learning new compound exercises. And when she’s not in the gym, she’s most probably reading.