Lately, I’ve been trying to strengthen my core to help ease the aches and pains I feel after sitting at a desk all day.
Specifically, I focus on deep core training, targeting my obliques, hips, lower back, and abdominal muscles.
When physical therapist and Pilates instructor Lily Sabri recently shared a 10-minute workout that targets these muscles, I was determined to give it a try.
It’s a Pilates-style workout, a type of exercise that involves small, controlled movements to build strength as well as improve coordination and posture.
Most of the exercises in this routine are done while seated or lying down, making it generally accessible and suitable for beginners, but still extremely effective.
Watch Lily Sabri’s Deep Core Workout
My Results
Being used to full-body dumbbell workouts, I’m always amazed at how challenging a bodyweight Pilates routine can be, and this one had my abs burning hot within the first few minutes.
There are no rest periods in this workout, which means your core muscles are constantly contracting, stressing and strengthening them. I took a few 10-second breaks to allow my muscles to recover, but I still pushed myself to commit to a solid 10 minutes of core training.
This routine targets a variety of deep core muscles, including the lateral obliques and lower abdominals. Some of the seated movements where you lean back also work the hip flexors, another part of the deep core I’m trying to strengthen.
This is definitely a routine to do on a regular basis as it helps develop deep core strength and I would recommend it to anyone looking to diversify their strength training.
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