It’s no wonder Pilates training is so popular – it’s a great equipment-free way to build muscle and improve posture, balance and coordination.
Weightlifting is my main form of exercise, but with working from home and spending a lot of time sitting, I’ve been trying out Pilates to strengthen my core and feel more toned.
That’s why I was intrigued by this five-minute Pilates workout I came across on Instagram, created by certified Pilates instructor Madeleine Abeid. Since I like to do a short, focused core routine on my lunch break, this seemed ideal. I decided to give it a try.
Madeline Abeid’s Pilates Workout
To do this workout, do each of the five exercises for one minute with no breaks. Abeid says it’s important to keep your hips flat and tucked in throughout the movements, as this will engage your core and prevent muscle tension. He also suggests exhaling during the most difficult parts of the exercises and inhaling as you reset.
My experience
This routine is performed in a seated position with your weight on your forearms and your legs extended in front of you.
I had never done the moves in this routine before, so I made sure to copy Abade’s form exactly.
At first, I felt like this was more of an inner thigh exercise than a core exercise, and even though this position engaged my core, I didn’t get the “burn” that I get from traditional Pilates.
(Image courtesy of Alice Porter)
This pose reminded me of Boat Pose, which I often do in yoga class. One way to make Boat Pose more difficult is to extend your hands out in front of you, rather than resting your forearms on the ground, which can be tricky to balance on.
For these exercises, I chose to raise my arms in the same way, and the burn was immediate. Doing them for a minute at a time was tough, but with short breaks between each movement, I managed it.
Practicing the exercises in this way requires both stability and strength, both aspects of the core I’m trying to improve, so it felt like an effective workout.
If you’re new to training, you’ll notice that the movement still engages your core, even when you keep your forearms on the floor, so I recommend trying it this way at first, but I had to make the routine more difficult to fully engage my core.
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