6 Core Exercises to Ease Lower Back Pain

[caption id="attachment_65890" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Twenty20[/caption] When most of us think about exercising with lower back pain, we think about workarounds. As in, “is that squat going to hurt? And what variations can I sub in to prevent a flare-up?” But, according to new research, we should actually be asking, “what can I do to strengthen my core?” After all — while four out of five people will battle back pain at some point in their lives, per the American Chiropractic Association — the 2018 study from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center shows that weak core muscles in runners (and, probably, any exerciser) can increase the risk of lower back pain. Meanwhile, 2017 research out of Pakistan shows that performing core stabilization exercises is more effective than traditional physical therapy at reducing lower back pain. Why? Because the deep-lying core muscles, such as the transverse abdominis (which hook in and around the spine) serve to stabilize the body’s entire midsection, explains Grayson Wickham, DPT, CSCS, founder of Movement Vault flexibility and mobility online program. But when one muscle, or group of muscles, is weak, another one is forced to pick up the slack, he says. RELATED: 6 Core Exercises to Make You a Stronger, Faster Runner For example, in The Ohio State study, researchers found that when people’s deep core muscles were weak, running placed excess stress on their more superficial core muscles, as well as the spine. Over time, these compensations can cause wear and tear and painful overuse injuries, Wickham explains. Unfortunately, most of us head into our workouts with pretty weak, inactive core muscles. (Thanks, desk job.) That’s why, to both ease and reduce the risk of mid-workout back pain, Wickham recommends adding core exercises to your pre-workout warm-up. Start with these six core exercises, courtesy of Wickham, performing them back-to-back before any workout or as a standalone core workout. RELATED: 7 Ways Exercise Helps Relieve Back Pain

The Core Workout to Help Relieve Lower Back Pain

1. Dead Bug

How to: Lie flat on your back with your arms and legs up in the air, knees bent and arms straight. Press your lower back into the floor, and brace your core (a). From here, lower one leg until your heel just about touches the floor while also lowering your opposite arm toward the floor above your head (b). Pause, then squeeze your core to lift them back up to return to start (c). Repeat with the opposite arm and leg (d). Continue alternating for 30 seconds. Repeat three times.

2. Low Side Plank Hold

How to: Get into a side plank on your forearm and knees so that your shoulder is directly over your elbow and your knees are stacked on top of each other and in line with your shoulders. Brace your core and hold. Don’t let your hips rotate or sag. Repeat on the opposite side. Perform two 20-second holds per side. If that’s too easy, raise up off of your knees (as shown above) so that you’re still balancing on your forearm, but with feet stacked. RELATED: Ab Challenge: 5 Planks to Sculpt Your Core

3. Segmented Cat-Camel

How to: Start on your hands and knees, wrists under shoulders and knees under hips (a). Squeeze your core and glutes and round your back up toward the ceiling, tucking your chin to your chest (b). From here, slowly reverse the arch in your back, starting at your tailbone and ending at your neck. Continue until your entire back is curved toward the floor and you look up toward the ceiling (c). Now reverse the motion, starting at your neck and moving back down toward your tailbone to return to the starting position (d). That’s one rep, which should take a minimum of 15 seconds. Complete 5 reps.

4. Bird Dog

How to: Start on the floor, on your hands and knees with wrists under shoulders and knees under hips. Look toward the floor, just in front of your hands. Brace your core to maintain a flat tabletop position (a). From here, extend one arm and the opposite leg up and away from your body so that they are parallel to the floor (b). Pause for three seconds, then slowly lower to return to start (c). Repeat on the opposite side (d). That’s one rep. Perform two sets of 8-12 reps. RELATED: Quick Lower Ab Exercises for a Stronger Core

5. Pallof Press

How to: Stand in a quarter squat with one side of your body facing a cable station. Hold the cable’s handle with both hands at navel-height (a). From here, press the handle straight out in front of you, making sure your body doesn’t turn to one side (b). Pause, then slowly reverse the movement to return to start (c). Perform 12-15 reps, then repeat on the opposite side.

6. Lying Windshield Wipers

How to: Lie face-up on the floor with your arms straight out from your sides. Raise your feet off of the floor so that your knees and hips are bent to 90 degrees, and press your low back into the floor. Brace your core to maintain this position (a). From here, keeping your legs together, slowly lower your legs as far as you can to one side without lifting your shoulders or low back off of the floor (b). Pause, then reverse the movement to return start (c). Repeat on the opposite side (d). That’s one rep. Perform 8 reps. Read More 50 Ab Exercises to Score a Stronger Core Hate Crunches? 6 Better Core Exercises for Beginners 8 Yoga Poses to Help Ease Back Pain

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The 9 Most Common Trainer Cues, Decoded

[caption id="attachment_65843" align="alignnone" width="620"]Photo: Twenty20[/caption] Square your hips. Tuck your tailbone. Zip your navel to your spine. Listening to your trainer is much like playing a game of “Simon Says.” But if you’re new to exercise or trying a workout for the first time, it’s not uncommon to get tangled up in a trainer’s cues. Pete McCall, CSCS, ACE-certified personal trainer and host of the All About Fitness podcast, says, “Trainer cues are meant merely to create awareness to movement. They’re there to help people be more mindful of what they’re doing.” With that said, if you’re unsure about something, don’t be afraid to ask your trainer to clarify or explain. After all, these prompts are intended to help you get the most out of your workout and prevent injury. Read on to learn the most common trainer cues and how to decode them. RELATED: The 15 Most Underrated Exercises, According to Trainers

What Your Trainer Really Means When They Say…

1. Tuck your tailbone.

Trainer translation: OK, so you can’t literally tuck away your tailbone. But this common barre phrase is meant to help you bring awareness to the midline of your body, McCall says. Tucking your tailbone means engaging your abs and scooping your hips so that they’re tilted slightly forward. This helps to straighten your spine. “When your spine is rounded or rotates the wrong way, it could be a potential risk of injury,” McCall says.

2. Lead with the hips.

Trainer translation: When squatting, you may have heard the cue to “avoid letting your knees go over your toes” or to “lead with the hips.” McCall explains, “What your trainer really means is that your hips should move before your knees when you perform a squat.” A strong squat starts with a hip hinge and shooting your butt back and down to activate your glutes. “Whether you squat or lunge, your glutes should be doing more of the work,” McCall says.

3. Feel a two-way stretch.

Trainer translation: Another common yoga and barre phrase, this cue simply means to lengthen, says Krystal Dwyer, Daily Burn 365 trainer and FlyBarre instructor. “Lengthen out of the top of your head and tailbone, or in some cases, out of your toes,” Dwyer says. “I want people to feel their entire body stretching and lengthening while they’re moving.”

4. Brace your core.

Trainer translation: Whether you’re performing a push-up or a plank, this cue is all about contracting your abs. “A more effective cue is to grip the floor with both hands. This gives you more stability in your shoulders and turns your abs on,” McCall says. McCall tells his clients to imagine their older brother punching their stomach. “You want to keep your entire core tight,” he says. RELATED: 50 Ab Exercises to Score a Stronger Core

5. Pull your belly button towards the spine.

Trainer translation: This is impossible, obviously, but the point of this cue is to activate your transverse abdominis (TVA), the deepest layer of your abdominals. From a Pilates 100 to an ab roll-up, these waist-cinching moves are best known for engaging your TVA. “By activating your transverse abs, you’re firing up all four layers around your lumbar spine,” McCall says. “This helps keep your back stable and supports your hips and pelvis,” he adds.

6. Pinch your shoulder blades.

Trainer translation: Put some back into it! Imagine that there’s a ball between your shoulders on your upper back, and you don’t want that ball to drop. From renegade rows to reverse flies, scapular retraction will allow for better posture, muscle activation and injury prevention. “Pulling should come from the elbows. Pinching your shoulders keeps them out of the way so your arms can move safely,” McCall says. RELATED: Get Sculpted Shoulders with These 5 Exercises

7. Draw your chin back.

Trainer translation: It’s all about alignment. Whether you’re doing a plank or a push-up, you want to make sure your entire body from the top of your head to your tailbone is aligned. “When we press our chin forward, we’re creating a lot of tension in our neck and upper back,” Dwyer says.

8. Pull up on the pedals.

Trainer translation: If you’re sprinting during spin class, McCall says it’s actually more effective to think about pulling up on pedals as opposed to pushing them down. Also, he adds, “Imagine wiping your shoe on a mat. This takes advantage of the natural motion of your foot muscles, so you move more efficiently and with more control.” Whether you’re sitting in a neutral on the bike or climbing in third position, this cue is also a good reminder to engage your glutes and hamstrings to pull the pedals away — and not just your quads. RELATED: 7 SoulCycle Secrets for Proper Form on a Spin Bike

9. Open your heart.

Trainer translation: Your trainer isn’t trying to get deep into your psyche here. It simply means to keep your chest lifted and open. “Think of having a diamond necklace on and your showing it off,” Dwyer says. Hunching your back over a desk during the day makes your chest less open and more prone to shoulder injury while lifting. “Press your shoulder blades down into your back pocket and keep your chin lifted and back,” she says. Read More: Push Through Any Workout with These Trainer Mantras The 25 Craziest Workout Excuses Trainers Have Ever Heard Just Not Feeling It Today? 33 Sources of Workout Motivation

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5 Stability Ball Exercises That Work More Than Your Abs

[caption id="attachment_65774" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Twenty20[/caption] If you equate stability balls with core work only, you’re selling them (and your fitness results) short. Adding stability ball exercises to your workout is a great, simple way to increase the difficulty of your favorite moves. Using just this tool, you can challenge both your upper and lower body in new, creative ways, explains trainer Tara Romeo, CSCS, CES, director of the Professional Athletic Performance Center in New York. (If you don’t already have one at home, we like the URBNFit Ball.) RELATED: 5 Stability Ball Exercises for a Crazy Strong Core Plus, no matter the exercise, performing a move with an exercise ball will force you to work double-time as you fight to keep your core stable. “Due to the ball's soft surface, your body has to constantly compensate for the continuous changes in balance throughout the exercise,” Romeo explains. “This strengthens the deep-lying stabilizing muscles in your core.” To get you in on the total-body action, Romeo shares five challenging stability ball exercises you need to try. Add them into your existing exercise routine or perform each move for 10 reps and three sets for a workout that will leave your entire body shaking. RELATED: 50 Ab Exercises to Score a Stronger Core

5 Stability Ball Exercises You’re Not Doing (But Should!)

1. Stability-Ball-Elevated Split Squat

Take your squats to the next level with this advanced bodyweight move. It hammers your quads, glutes, and hamstrings while honing your total-body balance and core stability. How to: Stand tall with your feet hip-width apart. Place the top of one foot on a stability ball directly behind your body (a). Keeping your weight in the heel of your front foot, bend your knees to lower your body toward the floor. Allow the ball to roll onto your back shin (b). Pause, then push through your front heel to stand up, rolling the top of your foot back onto the ball (c). Repeat for reps, then switch sides.

2. Stability-Ball Hamstring Curl

Ditch the gym’s bulky hamstring curl machine and opt for this at-home variation. It works your hammies and glutes in a big way — without taking the rest of your lower-body stabilizers out of the muscle-building equation. How to: Lie flat on your back on the floor. Place both ankles on top of a stability ball hip-width apart (a). With your back flat, core braced and arms at your side, squeeze your glutes to raise your hips up off the ground so that your body forms a straight line from knees to shoulders. Your feet should be flat on the ball (b). From here, press your heels into the ball and bend your knees to pull the ball toward your butt (c). Pause, then straighten your knees to drive the ball back out, keeping your hips elevated as you do so (d). Repeat for reps, keeping hips elevated between reps. RELATED: 275 Bodyweight Exercises to Shake Up Your Workout Routine

3. Lat Pull-Over on a Stability Ball

Despite the name, this simple yet effective exercise not only works your lats, but also your pecs and shoulders. And of course, it fires up your core. Just grab a dumbbell to get it done right. How to: With your feet flat on the floor and placed shoulder-width apart, position your upper back on a stability ball (a). Lift your hips so you reach a table-top position, knees bent to 90 degrees and back completely flat. Hold the top of a dumbbell with both hands above your chest, allowing a slight bend in your elbows (b). From here, keeping your back flat, core braced and a slight bend in your elbows, slowly lower the weight behind your head (c). Pause, then drive the weight back up to start (d). Repeat.

4. Stability-Ball Y-Ups

This one is a lot harder than it looks, as you train the lower traps. You also hit the often-underworked rhomboids and rear delts for improved posture and upper-body stability. Start without weights before moving onto 5- or 10-pound dumbbells. How to: Lie on your stomach on a stability ball, with your feet on the floor, spread shoulder-width apart for balance (a). Extend your arms straight out in front of you and rotate your hands so your thumbs point up toward the ceiling. Keep your shoulders down and away from your ears (b). From here, pinch your shoulder blades together like you are pinching an orange to slowly raise your arms up as far as you can without letting your torso move (c). Pause, then slowly lower back to start and repeat (c). RELATED: 5 No-Equipment Back Exercises You Need in Your Life

5. Dead Bug

We’d be remiss not to include one core-specific exercise. After all, exercise balls have a reputation for a reason. And while equipment-free dead bugs train both the six-pack-looking abs and deep-lying core muscles like crazy, adding in a yoga ball is a great way to turn up the burn. How to: Lie flat on your back on the floor with your arms and legs extended straight up toward the ceiling, bracing a stability ball between your arms and legs. Tilt your pelvis to press your low back into the floor, and brace your core to maintain this back position throughout the entire exercise (a). Lower one arm and the opposite leg toward the floor as low as you can while keeping a flat-back position and keeping the ball in place (b). Pause, then squeeze your abs to raise your arm and leg back to start (c). Repeat on the opposite side (d). Continue alternating. Originally published August 2017. Updated February 2018.  Read More Hate Crunches? 6 Better Core Exercises for Beginners Quick Lower Ab Exercises for a Stronger Core 3 Quick HIIT Workouts for Beginners

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The Truth About How to Lose Belly Fat

[caption id="attachment_63815" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Twenty20[/caption] You’ve tried them all in your pursuit of flat abs: crunches, reverse crunches, planks, bicycles and even the ab roller. After all, it seems logical. To increase muscular definition and lose fat, you should workout your stomach muscles more. But will that really lead to a trim belly? RELATED: 7 Surprising Ways You're Sabotaging Your Metabolism “You can do 50,000 crunches a day, but it will still only be toned muscles under your belly fat,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN and owner of Nutrition Starring You. “The truth is, unless the weight comes off, you’re not going to get a six-pack.” So how do you get rid of the stubborn cushion around your midsection? Read on to get the real scoop on how to lose belly fat. RELATED: 5 Pilates Exercises to Strengthen Your Deep Abs

Stomach Fat 101

“You exercise for 30 minutes compared to the 23-and-a-half hours that you don’t exercise.”

First things first, everyone has fat, both the layer of subcutaneous fat just under our skin that helps insulate the body and the deeper visceral fat that surrounds and protects the organs. That’s right: You’re supposed to have belly fat. But just how much fat you have and how it’s distributed has more to do with genetics than your core workout. Men and women squirrel away fat differently, according to Harris-Pincus. On average, women have six to 11 percent more body fat than men. That extra fat typically gathers lower on the body (especially before they hit menopause) around the hips and thighs, creating a pear-shape. Men, on the other hand, tend to accumulate fat around the belly (hence, the beer gut). RELATED: Hate Crunches? 6 Better Core Exercises Thanks to the hormone estrogen, the female body likes to hold on to fat, too. A study in Obesity Reviews shows that women store fat more efficiently than men in an effort to prepare the body for pregnancy. But while it seems like women may have drawn the short-end of the stick, the stereotypical pear-shape is actually considered healthier than boasting a beer gut, because belly fat is a red flag when it comes to your health. “Visceral fat is associated with increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome,” says Harris-Pincus. [caption id="attachment_44281" align="alignnone" width="620"]Photo: Pond5[/caption]

How to Lose Belly Fat and Keep It Off

Doing ab workouts might strengthen your core, but it won’t actually decrease fat or shrink those love handles — and that’s why you need to eat healthy. “You exercise for 30 minutes compared to the 23-and-a-half hours that you don’t exercise. You need to eat the right things,” says Harris-Pincus. RELATED: 6 Reasons Why You Can't Out-Exercise a Bad Diet Repeat after us: It’s time to start eating clean. She recommends a combination of veggies, fruit, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, low-fat dairy and lean protein like poultry, eggs and fish for a dose of omega-3 fatty acids. And drop the added sugar while you’re at it. “Studies show that when you have a diet rich in whole grains — and calorie-controlled — that you can reduce the belly fat,” she says. But remember to watch your portions, too. “A lot of people eat very healthy and don’t eat junk, but their portions are too large.” If you’re smart about the foods you choose and limit your intake, eventually you’ll start to lose body fat and drop pants sizes. But sorry: There’s no way to get it to disappear from only your belly — you'll likely reduce your overall body fat percentage and lose it in your face, hips, butt and chest, too. RELATED: The Pros and Cons of 6 Popular Weight Loss Diets Luckily, exercise can help spur things along when it comes to that pesky stomach fat. “Visceral fat responds well when… [you] start exercising and watching your calories and what you eat,” Harris-Pincus says. And while endless crunches aren’t your ticket to a flat stomach, it is still important to train your ab muscles. “Everything radiates from the center of your body – your balance, your posture, your functional movement,” says Joe Ardito, founder of Fit Crush NYC. “You can perform better when you have a strong core.” Research also shows that workouts involving high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can help reduce excess fat around your middle. Besides working your core, try incorporating a day or two of more vigorous exercise into your weekly schedule. (You can start with these three beginner routines.) Keep in mind that you can lower your total body fat percentage even by moving around more at work, according to another study.

The Bottom Line

There isn’t one magic trick or quick fix that will melt the fat around your midsection and give you those coveted abs we all see on the newsstands. Decreasing belly fat — and all body fat for that matter — is about making changes over the long-term. Originally published October 2015. Updated February 2018. Read More 12 Things Nobody Told Me About Losing Weight The 10 Biggest Diet Mistakes, According to Experts Here's Why Your Ab Workouts Aren't Working

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Got 10 Minutes? 3 Fat-Blasting Bodyweight Workouts

[caption id="attachment_65734" align="alignnone" width="620"]Photo: Pond5[/caption] If you think your gym’s exercise machines don’t look too different than the characters from the latest Transformers movie, you’re not alone. All those levers and cables and pins can have you running for the exit. But before you flip the script in the name of gymtimidation, remember that there's one piece of equipment that's consistently better than the rest: Your own body. That's right, your very own physique is the best and most versatile piece of fitness equipment you can use. According to Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach Mike Dewar of J2Fit, by performing bodyweight exercises and movements, you'll not only improve your balance and conditioning, you'll also start building muscle. And the more muscle you have, the more calories and fat your body will naturally burn. RELATED: 5 Killer Cardio Workouts That Don't Involve Running What’s more, Dewar stresses the importance of the body awareness and stability that comes from bodyweight training. “Without the ability to control your body in space, you can set yourself up for injury." Got 10 minutes to get a jump on your fitness? We thought so. That’s why we’ve put together three 10-minute bodyweight workouts fit for any experience level. Choose one today, another tomorrow, and you’ve got an easy way to get your sweat on anytime, anywhere.

Try These 3 Bodyweight Exercises

Perform these routines as a standalone workout, or add them to the end of your regular weight training or cardio workout as a "finisher." Find certain moves too challenging? Each circuit can be easily modified to suit your needs (or spatial limitations). And while Dewar recommends resting 60 seconds between each round, take as much (or as little) time as you need. Now clear a spot in your living room, or claim a corner of your park or gym — it’s go time! RELATED: 275 Bodyweight Exercises to Shake Up Your Workout Routine

Bodyweight Workout: 10-Minute Tone Up

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Squat Jumps

How to: Start by standing straight up with your feet flat on the ground, hip-width apart. Keeping your arms straight out in front of you, drop into a squat position, keeping your back straight and your chest up (a). Press through your heels and extend your arms down to explode off the ground, jumping as high as you can (b). Land as softly as you can with your knees bent. Reset your body as fast as possible and repeat (c). Beginner alternative: Not up for jumping? Dewar recommends bodyweight speed squats. “Jump squats and other power and speed-focused movements are amazing for developing new fast twitch muscle fibers,” he says. By upping the speed you’ll also be maximizing your calorie and fat burn, which translates to weight loss.

Side Lunges

How to: Stand straight up with your feet hip-width apart, hands on your hips or at your sides. With your abs tight, and hips pointing forward, take a big step to your right and bend your right knee 90 degrees (a). Driving through your right heel, return to the starting position (b). Next, do the same with your left leg (c). Beginner alternative: Lie down on your side to work the glutes and thighs with side leg raises. With both legs straight and the glutes and abs engaged, lift the top leg one to two feet off the ground, hold, and return to starting position.

Rotational Push-Ups

How to: Start in perfect push-up position. Hands should be about shoulder-width apart and directly underneath your shoulders. Your body should be in a perfectly straight line, from your heels to the top of your head (a). Perform a push-up (b). Then while keeping your feet in place, twist your torso to the right and lift your right arm straight above your body so your left and right arm are in a perfect line (c). Return to starting position. Repeat and alternate your left and right sides (d). Beginner alternative: If you haven’t mastered the basic push-up, try these beginner-friendly variations first. Go at your own pace — you’ll be working the same muscle groups and feeling the burn! RELATED: 50 Butt Exercises to Sculpt Stronger Glutes

Bodyweight Workout: 10-Minute Cardio Blast

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Mountain Climbers

How to: Start in a push-up position with your hands directly underneath your shoulders (a). Keeping your butt down and your whole body as flat as possible, bringing your right knee in towards your chest, then your left knee. Repeat at a rapid pace (b). If you’re feeling this in your abs and shoulders you’re doing it right! Beginner alternative: If the leg action has you gassed, simply hold the top of a push-up (aka a high plank). You’ll fire up your abdominals, not to mention your shoulders, glutes and legs! Alternating mountain climbers, in particular, help target your obliques and allow muscles to take over your love handles. RELATED: 5 Mountain Climbers for Seriously Sculpted Abs

Bird Dog Crunches

How to: Begin on all fours with your hands flat on the ground directly beneath your shoulders (a). While keeping a flat back, reach your right arm out while pushing your left leg back. Think of flexing your left glute and your right shoulder as you fully extend (b). Hold that position for a second before using your core to pull your leg and arm back into your body so that your right elbow comes close to your left knee (c). Complete 10 reps and then switch sides (d). Check out this video demo! Beginner alternative: Lie on your back for dead bugs. (See #4 here.) As you raise your right hand to meet your left foot, engage your abs while resisting arching your back. 

Burpees

How to: Everybody's favorite exercise… burpees. Start in a standing position (a). Squat down and put your hands on the floor, about shoulder-width apart (b). Keeping your hands there, jump your feet back so you are in the push-up position (c). Next jump your feet back towards your hands (d). Reset your body into the squat position and jump straight up. Once you land, repeat (e). Beginner alternative: If you need to take things down a notch, step back into the push-up position, one foot at a time, and eliminate the jump once you step back up to standing. A common HIIT finisher, these calorie-torching exercises are one of the best ways to help burn fat and build muscle long after you've worked out. RELATED: 7 Kick-Butt Burpee Variations You’ll Love to Hate

Bodyweight Workout 10-Minute HIIT Circuit

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Reverse Lunges

How to: Time to hit the legs! Start in a standing position with your feet about hip-width apart (a). With your hands on your hips take one step back with your right leg and drop into a lunge. Your left leg should make a 90-degree angle at the knee (b). From the lunge position stand back up straight and repeat with the left leg (c). Beginner alternative: Place a chair next to you for support as you perform the same move as detailed above. Lower as far as you can go and return to standing. RELATED: 4 Lower Body Moves You Can Do in Front of the TV

Single-Leg Glute Bridges

How to: Lie on your back, arms at your sides with your palms facing up. Bend your left knee and bring your left foot flat on the ground, close to your butt. Your right leg should be straight and off the ground (a). Pushing through your left heel, lift your hips until your body forms a straight line from your upper body to your knee. You should feel your hamstrings and glutes doing most of the work (b). Hold the top position for a full second and return to the starting position. Repeat for 10 reps then switch legs (c). Beginner alternative: Need a little more grounding? Try a two-leg glute bridge, with both feet planted firmly for support. As in the above progression, you'll strengthen your core, glutes and hamstrings, all in one efficient, no-equipment move.

Side Plank Leg Raises

How to: Lie on your side and prop yourself up onto your left forearm, with the side of your left foot on the ground, right foot stacked on top of it. Your body should be in a straight line (a). Raise your right arm straight up towards the sky (see video demo here) (b). Next, lift your right leg up and hold for a second. Return to the starting side plank position and repeat (c). Beginner alternative: Take it down a notch with a simple side plank with the top hand placed on your hip. Hold for 20-30 seconds, and slowly work your way up to raising the top hand overhead. RELATED: 5 Planks, 10 Minutes: Your Ultimate Abs Workout Made it through all three workouts? These bodyweight circuits are simple (but not easy!) way to help you build strength and burn fat — and lose weight. Feel yourself progressing? Try this 20-minute MetCon workout on for size. Originally posted September 2015. Updated February 2018.  Read More HIIT It Hard with These 27 Beginner Workouts and Tips 50 Ab Exercises to Score a Stronger Core 5 Easy Arm Exercises for an Awesome 30-Minute Workout

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9 Ways to Torch Your Core in Every Workout

[caption id="attachment_65699" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Twenty20[/caption] At the core of every movement is just that: your core. And while lots of times “core” and “abs” become synonymous, it’s not 100% correct to use them interchangeably. Your rectus abdominus, transverse abdominus and obliques do comprise your midsection, but those aren’t the only muscles involved. Your back, hips and glutes also provide that stable base you need for stepping forward and backward, jumping side-to-side or turning all about. So to get a serious core workout you need to work them all. “Core strength and stability not only enhances physical and athletic performance, but also helps maintain and correct posture and form, and prevent injury,” says Andia Winslow, a Daily Burn Audio Workouts trainer. “Those who have an awareness of their core and ability to engage it properly also have enhanced proprioception — or a sense of the positions of their extremities, without actually seeing them.” Just picture elite athlete’s movement, Winslow explains, and how rhythmic and easy they travel through space, often in several planes of motion at the same time. They can thank strong trunk muscles for that. “Core should be a focus in every workout,” Winslow says. “Workouts won’t be as effective without proper core engagement.” That’s not to say crunches need a permanent place in your sweat sessions. You can easily sneak in added core challenges during other common exercises. “When folks elect to add difficulty to workouts, they often increase weight, repetition or duration. Another — and often more effective — way to increase the intensity is by altering stance, ground contact, and/or dynamic variance equipment [think: sand or water],” Winslow says. Shifting your weight, testing your balance, or focusing on sticking a landing, all engage your middle more. Learn how to get a solid core workout in every strength session with these sneaky midsection-scorching strategies from Winslow. RELATED: 50 Ab Exercises to Score a Stronger Core

Strength Tips: How to Work Your Core in Every Workout

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1. Add weight overhead. 

Whether you’re doing squats or lunges, Winslow suggests pushing or holding a weight overhead — or even just keeping your arms straight up — to activate your abs and shoulders. These muscle groups have to work harder to keep your spine in a neutral position so you don’t over-arch, straining your low back. Translation: Put your hands in the air like you really care (about your core workout).

2. Hold your step-ups and pull-ups.

Stepping up onto a bench, chair or box requires you to use one leg, driving off your heel to reach the top. While balancing on one limb already works your core to keep you upright, Winslow explains that pausing at the top (with knee raised) will incorporate your midsection more. When you stand up, simply hold for a two- to five-second count, then go back down. Same strategy holds (literally!) for chin-ups and pull-ups. By pausing with your chin at the bar, your core fires to keep you steady and in one solid line. Leg or arm day turned core workout. RELATED: 6 Exercises for the Ultimate Back and Chest Workout [caption id="attachment_65701" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Twenty20[/caption]

3. Stick a single-leg landing on box jumps.

To crank up the core work in a box jump, start by bringing the hop height down. Then, keep the explosive leap to one leg and really stick the landing. (Hold it at the top for one to three seconds before standing up and stepping off.) One full-body exercise at its finest.

4. Do a single-arm dumbbell press or fly.

Make your arm and ab routine go hand-in-hand. Moving one arm at a time in exercises like a dumbbell press or fly, drives your midsection to work against the rotation to keep your hips square and your back straight. This will work whether you’re standing or lying on your back. Lift your hips into a bridge and you target your glutes, too. So many muscles; so much less time. RELATED: 5 Planks, 10 Minutes: Your Ultimate Abs Workout [caption id="attachment_65702" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Daily Burn 365[/caption]

5. Go for a twist. 

We tend to rotate in multiple directions all day, from turning to give a fellow studio mate a high five to twisting around to chat with a co-worker. But to keep that movement safe, your core needs enough strength to prop you upright and protect the spine. Enter: rotational exercises to build stability. Try twisting your torso at the top of a step-up or the bottom of a front or side lunge, so your body learns to better handle those turns you take throughout the day.

6. Throw punches during wall sits.

Turn a static wall sit into a full-body exercise by getting your arms involved. Simply extend your arms out in front of you to turn on your abs and arms. Or throw some ‘bows to up the cardio element, too. RELATED: 6 Plyometric Exercises for a No-Running Cardio Workout [caption id="attachment_65703" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photo: Daily Burn 365[/caption]

7. Lift a limb in planks.

It’s no secret that planks target your entire core. But pick up an arm, leg, or better yet both — and bam — a bigger burn. That’s because removing one base of support causes your abs, back muscles and legs to work harder to keep you in one straight line, Winslow says. This same principle holds true for push-ups, too. Pick one foot off the ground as you go and your middle will light up. Even tougher…a single-arm push-up.

8. Stand on one foot during arm exercises.

So you want to strengthen your shoulders or build your biceps? Well, you might as well get your core workout in as well. As you do shoulder presses, bicep curls or triceps extensions, stand on one leg. Not only will your abs and back work to keep you upright with a straight spine, the glutes in your standing leg will also go into overdrive to maintain stability. More muscles engaged equals more calories burned. RELATED: This Is How to Get Toned Arms

9. Grab a sandbag.

Use any equipment that brings a varying dynamic (aka without a solid surface) and it forces you to get extra sweaty as you try to keep steady. For instance, as the sand in a sandbag moves around while you push, pull or throw it, the stability challenge skyrockets. The same goes for BOSU or stability balls. Read More Quick Lower Ab Exercises for a Stronger Core Hate Crunches? 6 Better Core Exercises for Beginners 5 Stability Ball Exercises for a Crazy Strong Core

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5 Plank Variations to Get Hardcore Abs

[caption id="attachment_65692" align="alignnone" width="620"] Photos: Daily Burn[/caption] Planking in strange places might have been a social media fad of the mid 2000s, but doing plank exercises for abs as a means of strengthening your core? That’s here to stay. The trend did have one thing right — in order to perfect the plank, you need full-body engagement to create stiff-as-a-board stability. But to really work your entire body (no, it’s not just an ab exercise!) and blast more calories, you need to add a little movement to your planks. Goodbye plateau; hello all-over strength! Before you take on new variations, make sure you can master holding a straight line from the crown of your head to your heels, with shoulders over elbows (or wrists if you're in a high plank), says Prince Brathwaite, a Daily Burn 365 trainer and founder of Trooper Fitness. “If you’re unable to keep your hips in line with your head and feet, then you should regress,” he says. Placing your knees on the ground is a good place to start. And if you can stop that straight line from breaking for one full minute, it’s time to switch it up. Here, Brathwaite offers five ways to progress your plank exercises so you keep challenging your core — without results fading as quick as a fad. RELATED: 5 Planks, 10 Minutes: Your Ultimate Abs Workout

Plank Exercises That Go Beyond the Basic

When holding a solid straight-body plank for 60 seconds feels as easy as lying on the couch, it’s time put your body to the movement test. Follow this line-up of five plank exercises from Brathwaite to keep it progressing — meaning your muscles will trample plateaus. As soon as one exercise feels easy, work on mastering the next. [caption id="attachment_65680" align="alignnone" width="620"] GIFs: Daily Burn[/caption]

1. Step Out Plank

Step one: Add some movement to that isometric hold. By lifting a leg, you’re forced to work harder to keep your trunk and hips steady, counteracting the movement in your lower half. How to: Start in a forearm plank position (a). Tap your right foot out to the side, a little wider than hip-width, then step it right back (b). Tap your left foot out to the side, a little wider than hip-width, then step it back (c). Continue alternating. RELATED: 3 Plyometric Planks You Need to Try ASAP

2. Arm Raise Plank 

Time to balance on three limps. Once again, your core has to fire to keep your body still as you pick up one arm, then the other. How to: Start in a forearm plank position (a). Keeping your hips squared to the ground and lower half stable, lift your right arm straight up to shoulder height. Then lower it back down (b). Lift your left arm straight up to shoulder height, then place it back down (c). Continue switching arms.

3. Arm and Leg Raise Plank

The anti-rotation test just took an even more difficult turn. “Naturally, your hips will want to twist to find the path of least resistance,” says Brathwaite. “Your job: Maintain parallel hips and minimal movement in your midsection.” Challenge, accepted. How to: Start in a forearm plank position (a). Lift your left arm and right leg straight up to shoulder and hip height. Pause for a second, then lower them back to the starting position (b). Next, lift your right arm and left leg straight up to shoulder and hip height, pause, then place them back down (c). Continue alternating. RELATED: 50 Ab Exercises to Score a Stronger Core

4. Star Plank

As they say, one simple change can lead to big benefits — and a serious burn. Just by stepping your hands out an inch or two in front of your shoulders, you’ll really torch your core as you fight to stay stable. How to: Start in a high push-up plank position (a). Step one hand a few inches in front of your shoulder, then the other hand — and hold it there. Your body should remain in one straight line, with full-body muscle engagement (b). Work on holding this position for 60 seconds without breaking form.

5. High Low Star Plank

Meet the star plank, but with extra star (err, sweat) power. Walking your hands forward and backward means even more muscles work (hello, shoulders and back) and you slash more calories. How to: Start in a forearm plank position (a). Press up onto one hand as you step it out a few inches in front of your shoulder, then do the same on the other (b). Next, step one hand back and go back down onto your forearm, so your elbow is under your shoulder. Then repeat with the other arm (c). Continue stepping your hands forward and backward, going from forearm plank to star plank, and keeping your body in one straight line. Read More Ab Challenge: 5 Planks to Sculpt Your Core Hate Crunches? 6 Better Core Exercises for Beginners Quick Lower Ab Exercises for a Stronger Core

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