Celebrity Pilates trainer and founder of Natural Pilates, Laura Wilson, tells Elite Daily your core is ‘the powerhouse’ in Pilates. It covers not just your abs, but your spine and glutes as well. In addition to having a toned mid-section, a strong core can help with back pain and getting your body to move more efficiently.
“Summer is definitely a time when we want to look as fit and toned as possible,” Wilson shares, which is why she suggests these core Pilates exercises that focus on your abs. Wilson says that depending on how you feel about getting sand in your hair, you could even do this full Pilates routine at the beach. Even if you just do a quick 15-minute Pilates workout in the morning, you’ll feel ready to take on whatever the day brings.
Wilson recommends you start your core Pilates workout with abdominal crunches. In fact, crunches are one of the best mat exercises you can do for your abs, according to the celeb trainer. “You really can’t go wrong with properly performed crunches using Pilates breathing: inhaling through the nose into the ribcage, and exhaling through the mouth as you actively tighten and compress the abs,” she says.
From your half roll back, perform a roll down with your arms and legs out in front of you. Begin bended forward over your legs and roll all the way back down to the mat. Remember to perform diaphragmatic breathing or belly breathing as you roll down. Wilson says this is also another way to really sculpt and build strength in your core.
Keep your workout rolling with this next Pilates ab exercise. Starting from a seated position, just roll back like you’re a ball. Make sure to belly breath as you roll by “inhaling through the nose.” Then, “as you exhale out through the mouth retract your navel to your spine and contract your abdominals,” Wilson says.
Also from your side, you can perform a side plank. While “many core exercises are very integrated,” Wilson shares that “planks and side planks really work the whole body.” Use a small weight or water bottle with the arm that’s not supporting you to really work out those muscles as you raise and lower your arm.
“Planks and side planks are probably the best bet for the beach,” Wilson says. If you’re planning an end-of-summer beach house weekend with your besties, start each morning with a few plank exercises on the sand. You can even modify the plank exercise by keeping your knees or elbows on the mat if you need to.