[Video] 15-Minute Cardio Core Challenge Workout

You may hate sit-ups (really, who doesn't?), but neglecting core strength can put a serious crimp in your fitness. Not only will a weak core throw off your balance and your posture, but it can also lead to injury. If your ab and back muscles are not strong (and equal strength is important to provide balance to your muscles), you can literally hurt yourself doing simple activities from running, to gardening, to taking the groceries out of the car!

This short workout will challenge your core muscles - from all of your different ab groups, to your glutes and lower back as well - with fast, fun exercises that provide balanced strengthening and toning (no sit-ups here)! This quick, fast-paced workout will also give you a great cardio challenge.

Okay, grab a mat, and let's get that core in shape before it's time for spring yard work!

Video - 6 Week Six-Pack Abs Workout w/Jillian Michaels

True to form, Jillian Michaels pulls no punches in this full-length ab and core workout. From start (warm-up), to finish and stretching, this fast-paced workout will make you sweat, and help you build those killer abs you were hoping to show off in a swimsuit this summer!

As usual, the workout includes demos of both beginning and advanced versions of all of the exercises, so no matter what level you're working at, you can reach your goals for a flat tummy.

Now grab a mat, some water, weights if you want them, and let's work that core!

6 Exercises for Strengthening Your Core

To get ready for swimsuit season, you are probably doing a lot of targeted exercises to get in shape. You are likely focusing on your abs and thighs the most, and doing what you can to drop a few extra pounds before you have to squeeze into that swimsuit. There is a huge factor that many people are missing out on as they are getting ready for summer, however, and to their own detriment. That factor is the importance of core strengthening.

What Exactly Is the Core?

Suspension exercise ‪for the core. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Your core muscles are a group of muscles running down the center of your body. These include your abdominal muscles, back muscles, and your pelvis. All of these muscles contribute to your overall balance and strength.

How Does Core Strengthening Help?

Core strengthening helps on many levels. At its most basic, your core strength comes into play in everyday activities such as lifting your groceries and vacuuming your house. Your core is your center of balance and strength for almost everything you do, especially when it comes to working out and getting in shape. A strong core can help you be more successful with all your workouts, as it gives you the best canvas to work from.

How Can I Strengthen My Core?

Core strengthening exercises are the best way to get your core in shape. These exercises will not only improve your core strength, but they will also help you tone your abdominal muscles, back, butt, and thighs so you can make big strides toward your summer fitness goals. Even better, these exercises can all be done from home so there is no gym membership required.

6 Effective Core Exercises

1. Yoga and Pilates

Yoga and Pilates-type exercises are the most popular workout routines that are aimed toward building a strong and healthy core. You can find yoga and Pilates videos online, on DVD, or even learn poses from books and magazines. These are easy to do from home and most routines do not even require any sort of equipment. (Check out our Amazon store for some of our favorite yoga & Pilates workouts!)

2. Planking

Planks are an exercise that you might find difficult in the beginning, but as you core strengthens you will find it easier over time. Planking is great for the whole body, from your arms all the way down through your legs, and is actually touted as being a better exercise for your abs than crunches.

Start by getting into push-up position on the floor, but rest on your arms at 90-degree angles. Straighten your whole body out, through to your feet up on your toes. Use your core muscles to hold the position for as long as possible. Each day, hold a little longer.

Core workout on the ball. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. Balance ball

Using a balance ball helps you to focus on your core muscles when doing certain exercises. You can use a balance ball to do push-ups, crunches, and more. Even simply sitting on a balance ball instead of a chair helps you strengthen your core muscles during the day.

4. V-sit

Sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Lean back to a 45 degree angle and hold your arms out straight beside you. Slowly lift your feet off the ground, using your core to keep yourself steady. Extend your legs out so that your body forms a “V”. Hold this position as long as possible, using your extended arms to help maintain your balance.

5. Tucks

Start in the same position as the v-sit, leaning back at the 45 degree angle and arms straight out beside you. Extend your legs out just like in the v-sit, but then bring them back to your body, not resting them on the floor. Repeat this motion ten times, rest, and then repeat.

6. Bicycles

Starting in crunch position with your hands behind your ears, reach your elbow to the opposite knee, extending the other leg out. Repeat the motion, alternating sides, and working your legs as if riding a bicycle. Continue the motion for an extended period of time, at least 30 seconds, before resting and then repeating.

Core strengthening is where great workouts and a great body start. If you are wanting to get toned and fit for summer, core exercises are what you want to focus on.

Try These Fun Core Workouts:

   

(Video) 5-Minute Core Workout for Runners

This short workout will give you a strong core, which is essential for runners to avoid injury. Strengthening your core muscles helps give you better stability, balance and power.

Contrary to what some people think, the "core" doesn't just mean your abs - it also includes your back, butt, hips, and groin muscles. This short workout will work all of these muscles and more, for a firm, strong core - which is good whether you're a runner or not.

It's only 5 minutes long, so you can do it anytime, anywhere, but it will really make you burn!



  
Like this? Check out this great workout for runners!

Video: Zumba Flat Abs Workout

This short 20-minute workout uses fun Latin-inspired Zumba workout moves focused on the core to tighten and flatten the abs, while getting your cardio in as well. The movements hit all of your different abdominal muscles from all angles for maximum impact. Do this one regularly to help tone and flatten your belly just in time for beach season!

Zumba Fitness Flat Abs Workout
Health-current-events119.blogspot.com.

Video: 7-Minute Medicine Ball Core Workout

Medicine balls are a very versatile piece of exercise equipment, and they are particularly helpful for building core strength.

This short video shows you 7 quick exercises you can do to tighten and strengthen your core muscles using no equipment other than a medicine ball. One cool thing about using a medicine ball is it is a strength-training tool, so even when you're focusing on the core, you're also building strength in your back, glutes, arms, thighs, and throughout your body.

She only does 10 reps of each of these, so it's nice as a beginner workout, but feel free to add more reps as you progress, or repeat the sets again as she instructs in the video.

Check it out, and have fun getting a strong core and flatter abs for summer beach season!

MEDICINE BALL WORKOUT: 7 Exercises to FLATTEN and STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE | Autumn Fitness
Mountain Climbers, Push Ups, Squats, Sit Ups—Today we are working our CORE MUSCLES by doing 7 MED BALL EXERCISES!


Need A Medicine Ball? Get Yours Here:
    

Video: 10-Minute Killer Ab Workout

This hard-core ab workout is part of Tony Horton's 10-Minute Trainer series - a workout series designed to give you a fast, fun, hard-hitting workout in just 10 minutes - of course you can combine them for a longer workout if you have more than 10 minutes available - but they are great for today's busy person on the go! I throw in one of these every so often when I don't have a lot of time to work out.

This particular workout focuses on the abs and core, working every core muscle from just about every angle imaginable through 20 different exercises. Each exercise is only done for 30 seconds in this one, not the whole minute, so you get lots of variety and hit all the muscles in your center. These aren't just your typical crunches! From Scissor Lift, to Mountain Climbers, to Superman Crunch, your core will get a great variety of challenging moves. There are beginner modifications demonstrated for each move, if your core is not that strong yet - be sure to follow these if needed.  You don't really need any equipment for this one other than an exercise mat, so you can do it just about anywhere.

If you want an awesome ab workout that will really give ALL of your core muscles a great workout in just 10 minutes, throw this one into your routine a couple of times per week, and watch your abs get strong and lean just in time for summer!

Killer 10 Minute Ab Workout that can be done at home!!!
Subscribe:http://goo.gl/mgDrPi Learn more about 10 minute workouts: http://bit.ly/10minuteWorkouts


More 10-Minute Trainer Workouts:
   

Video: Strength Exercises for Swimmers

If you love swimming and want to increase your speed, this short video demonstrates some great exercises for building core strength and increasing speed while swimming. These are also great exercises for building core strength in general - so even if you're not a swimmer, you can benefit from these with a strong core, better posture, and a flatter, more toned midsection.*

*Note: Some of these exercises are fairly advanced. Do not attempt without making sure you are at a high enough fitness level to avoid injury. Listen to your body, and consult a personal trainer for guidance if needed.

Fast Swimming Secret Tip - Core Exercise
Sabir Muhammad demonstrates fast swimming exercises used at the Race Club to increase core strength. Gary Hall Sr describes these exercises and how they incr...

Video: Pilates Abs & Obliques Core Workout

Pilates is an excellent form of exercise to build a strong core, as it focuses constantly on the core muscles regardless of what exercise you are doing. This video however focuses specifically on your core. This short (17-minute) core workout works all of your core muscles to build strength and stability, and help prevent back pain and injury, as well as improve your posture and appearance of your abs and waist. Done on a regular basis, this one can really make a difference to your balance and posture.

Be sure to pay attention to the verbal instructions for proper technique, and watch the demo through at least once before you do it yourself. This is a progressive workout, meaning it starts off easy and gradually increases the challenge with each exercise, so you don't really need to warm up first.

Give it a try, and feel those abs burn!

Pilates Core Series Workout - Fitness Blender Pilates Abs and Obliques Workout
Click here http://bit.ly/rRFe0L to find out how many calories this workout burns, & what it's benefits are. Lose 16-24 lbs in 8 weeks with our free videos - ...
 

More Pilates Workouts to Strengthen Your Core: 
     

Video - Ab-Trimming Yoga Workout

This 10-minute yoga workout features poses and exercises focused on strengthening and tightening your core muscles to trim that waist and strengthen your midsection. The awesome thing about yoga is that it actually works your entire body, even while focusing on certain areas, so your whole body can get stronger and leaner even just in a short workout. Do this a couple of times a week to build a strong core and back, improve your posture, and flatten your abs. Some of these exercises are fairly challenging, so be sure to use the modifications where suggested if you need to, and be careful of your lower back if you have had problems in that area. Once you get your core stronger, you'll be able to do the full versions of the exercises.

Yoga Abs Workout
This ab workout is designed to strengthen and shrink your midsection using core-focused yoga moves to define trimmer, tighter abs.

Video - Menopause Core Exercises

One of the main things you may notice when going through menopause is that you tend to accumulate more fat in the belly region. This is due in part to decreased metabolism (see last week's posts for help with this), and in part to hormone fluctuations. Regular cardio exercise (especially of the interval kind), together with exercises for a strong core can help you keep that flat belly even after menopause. This short video demonstrates three great core exercises that will help build and maintain core strength. They won't take long to do, and can be incorporated into your regular workout routine, or alternated on different days. (See instructions below video for set/rep information.)

Menopause Weight Loss | My Menopause Fix Blog
Menopause Weight Loss For more Videos and menopause weight loss information visit http://www.mymenopausefix.com If you would like my FREE 7 Day Menopause Die...


3 Simple Exercises for Toning the Core:

1) Hip Bridge - 20 Reps 2 Sets
2) 1 Leg Static Hip Bridge with Knee Taps - 10 each Leg 2 Sets
3) Reverse Tabletop Crunch ( Slow ) - 20 Reps 2 Sets

Quick 10-Minute Core Burn Pilates Video

Looking for a quick workout for your abs and core muscle?  Here is a crazy-intense Pilates workout for your core. It’s a short 10-minute video, and you don’t need anything but an exercise mat or folded blanket to lie on. (Note: This is a more advanced video, so if you are a beginner, you will want to modify by bending your knees and/or keeping your head down on the mat.)

Check out this fun, free workout video now, and get those abs in shape quick! (If video does not appear below, just click the link.)

POP Pilates: Crazy Core Workout – Intense! Fun! (Full 10 min) Pilates Video
www.ogorgeous.com This Pilates workout video really hits the core. I’m serious. You’ll be feeling the wrath of Pilates on your lower abs, your upper abs, and your obliques. You’ll be sore tomorrow and you’ll love it. Cassey Ho is a fun Pilates Instru…


* Please note: All suggestions and articles on this blog are the opinions of the author or other contributors, and have not been evaluated for safety in your particular situation. One should consult with one’s personal fitness coach or healthcare practitioner before beginning any exercise program, especially if your fitness level is currently low.


For other fun workout ideas, as well as book and video recommendations, please visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html or Amazon.com.

Related articles on Pilates Workouts:

• Pilates 101 (lifescript.com)
• Best Pilates Exercises for Arms, Legs and Abs (brighthub.com)