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10-minute core workout

Six core exercises in ten minutes, with no equipment and no sit-ups.

Woman training

Do the six moves as a circuit: one set of each, rest a minute, then go round again.

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The workout at a glance

About 10 minutes. Warm up first with three minutes of marching on the spot and arm circles.

ExerciseSets and repetitionsMain muscles
Dead bug10 each sideabdominals
Plank20 to 30 secondsabdominals
Side plank15 seconds each sideabdominals
Reverse crunch10abdominals
Heel touches10 each sideabdominals
Superman10lower back
Before you startCheck with your doctor before starting if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, a recent injury or joint replacement. Stop any exercise that causes sharp or pinching pain.

How to do each exercise

1

Dead bug

Works: abdominals. Equipment: body only.
Dead bug: start position
1. Start
Dead bug: finish position
2. Finish
  1. Begin lying on your back with your hands extended above you toward the ceiling.
  2. Bring your feet, knees, and hips up to 90 degrees.
  3. Exhale hard to bring your ribcage down and flatten your back onto the floor, rotating your pelvis up and squeezing your glutes. Hold this position throughout the movement. This will be your starting position.
  4. Initiate the exercise by extending one leg, straightening the knee and hip to bring the leg just above the ground.
  5. Maintain the position of your lumbar and pelvis as you perform the movement, as your back is going to want to arch.
  6. Stay tight and return the working leg to the starting position.
  7. Repeat on the opposite side, alternating until the set is complete.

How much: 10 each side

2

Plank

Works: abdominals. Equipment: body only.
Plank: start position
1. Start
Plank: finish position
2. Finish
  1. Get into a prone position on the floor, supporting your weight on your toes and your forearms. Your arms are bent and directly below the shoulder.
  2. Keep your body straight at all times, and hold this position as long as possible. To increase difficulty, an arm or leg can be raised.

How much: 20 to 30 seconds

3

Side plank

Works: abdominals, shoulders. Equipment: body only.
Side plank: start position
1. Start
Side plank: finish position
2. Finish

    How much: 15 seconds each side

    4

    Reverse crunch

    Works: abdominals. Equipment: body only.
    Reverse crunch: start position
    1. Start
    Reverse crunch: finish position
    2. Finish
    1. Lie down on the floor with your legs fully extended and arms to the side of your torso with the palms on the floor. Your arms should be stationary for the entire exercise.
    2. Move your legs up so that your thighs are perpendicular to the floor and feet are together and parallel to the floor. This is the starting position.
    3. While inhaling, move your legs towards the torso as you roll your pelvis backwards and you raise your hips off the floor. At the end of this movement your knees will be touching your chest.
    4. Hold the contraction for a second and move your legs back to the starting position while exhaling.

    How much: 10

    5

    Heel touches

    Works: abdominals. Equipment: body only.
    Heel touches: start position
    1. Start
    Heel touches: finish position
    2. Finish
    1. Lie on the floor with the knees bent and the feet on the floor around 18-24 inches apart. Your arms should be extended by your side. This will be your starting position.
    2. Crunch over your torso forward and up about 3-4 inches to the right side and touch your right heel as you hold the contraction for a second. Exhale while performing this movement.
    3. Now go back slowly to the starting position as you inhale.
    4. Now crunch over your torso forward and up around 3-4 inches to the left side and touch your left heel as you hold the contraction for a second. Exhale while performing this movement and then go back to the starting position as you inhale. Now that both heels have been touched, that is considered 1 repetition.
    5. Continue alternating sides in this manner until all prescribed repetitions are done.

    How much: 10 each side

    6

    Superman

    Works: lower back, glutes, hamstrings. Equipment: body only.
    Superman: start position
    1. Start
    Superman: finish position
    2. Finish
    1. To begin, lie straight and face down on the floor or exercise mat. Your arms should be fully extended in front of you. This is the starting position.
    2. Simultaneously raise your arms, legs, and chest off of the floor and hold this contraction for 2 seconds. Tip: Squeeze your lower back to get the best results from this exercise. Remember to exhale during this movement. Note: When holding the contracted position, you should look like superman when he is flying.
    3. Slowly begin to lower your arms, legs and chest back down to the starting position while inhaling.

    How much: 10

    How to progress

    When you can finish every set with two repetitions to spare, in two sessions in a row, make it harder: add a little weight, add a set, or slow the lowering phase to three seconds. Change one thing at a time.

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