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This 6-minute Pilates workout will help you sculpt a strong and stable core All you need is 5 minutes to build core strength and stability, according to a certified Pilates instructor 8 moves and 8 minutes are all you need to activate your deep core, sculpt your abs and improve posture, according to a Pilates instructor Skip the gym — you don’t need any equipment for this 10-minute abs workout Only 15 minutes — challenge your core from every angle with this abs bodyweight workout I did a 30-minute core workout with zero equipment — here's how my abs responded Forget crunches — a Pilates instructor shares 9 exercises to target your deep core You just need 6 minutes to strengthen your core with this Pilates abs workout — no equipment required Nick Harris-Fry 23 July 2025 Fire up your core with this short session When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Getty images) It’s never easy to find the time and motivation to train, but almost all of us can spare six minutes to do a workout that doesn’t require any equipment. When it comes to motivation, that’s a bit trickier, but at least with this short session from Pilates instructor Lilly Sabri, you know that you’ll be finished in next to no time, and you’ll be pleased to have done it. If you do want to roll out one of the best yoga mats, it will make the session more comfortable as you’ll be doing the entire workout lying down. You may like Goodbye planks! This 6-minute Pilates workout will help you sculpt a strong and stable core All you need is 5 minutes to build core strength and stability, according to a certified Pilates instructor 8 moves and 8 minutes are all you need to activate your deep core, sculpt your abs and improve posture, according to a Pilates instructor Don’t be fooled into thinking it will be an easy ride just because it’s only six minutes long, either. Sabri suggests this as an intermediate workout, and you can be sure your abs will feel the effects of it afterwards. Watch Lilly Sabri’s 6-minute core workout 6 Min Pilates Classic Core | Intermediate | At home, no equipment - YouTube There are six exercises in the workout, and they are broken up by short breaks while Sabri explains what move is coming up next. Sabri does the workout with you, setting a pace for the exercises and providing tips to help you push through and get the most from it, so make sure you can see your screen throughout. With a short workout like this, it’s important to maximize each move, so make sure your form is correct and you’re moving at the right pace to engage your core muscles. Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. The workout features a mix of leg raises and sit-ups, along with the Hundreds exercise, which is a classic Pilates core-burner. The session works the upper and lower abs, your obliques through twisting moves, and the deep core muscles. There are no planks or bridges in the session, with all moves performed from the same lying position to make it easier and faster to transition between exercises. If you can make it a regular addition to your weekly routine, perhaps doing the workout three or four times a week — that’s still just 18-24 minutes of work a week — is a great way to get into the rhythm of training regularly, and you’ll notice your core strength improving. You can also use this short core routine as a finisher for a longer workout, to ensure your abs get some special attention after a full-body circuit, for example. Once you have completed the workout comfortably, it will be worth looking at longer sessions to keep progressing. Or you could even double up on this workout for a testing 12-minute session. If you enjoyed this Pilates-style workout and are looking for something longer, try this 20-minute core workout, which also improves your balance. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide I tried this 10-minute push-up challenge — here’s what happened Try these 8 best 30-minute workouts to build muscle and strength and burn calories I tried this 20-minute bodyweight abs workout with 14 million views — here’s what happened Back to Yoga Mats Showing 10 of 140 deals Gaiam Yoga Mat $16.99View Manduka PRO Yoga Mat Gaiam Yoga Mat $13.72View Manduka PRO Yoga Mat $180.61View Gaiam Yoga Mat Manduka PRO Yoga Mat Gaiam Yoga Mat $16.99View Manduka PRO Yoga Mat Gaiam Yoga Mat $19.99View Manduka PRO Yoga Mat Nick Harris-Fry Social Links Navigation Senior Writer Nick Harris-Fry is an experienced health and fitness journalist, writing professionally since 2012. He spent nine years working on the Coach magazine and website before moving to the fitness team at Tom’s Guide in 2024. Nick is a keen runner and also the founder of YouTube channel The Run Testers, which specialises in reviewing running shoes, watches, headphones and other gear. Nick ran his first marathon in 2016 after six weeks of training for a magazine feature and subsequently became obsessed with the sport. He now has PBs of 2hr 27min for the marathon and 15min 30sec for 5K, and has run 13 marathons in total, as well as a 50-mile ultramarathon. Nick is also a qualified Run Leader in the UK. Nick is an established expert in the health and fitness area and along with writing for many publications, including Live Science, Expert Reviews, Wareable, Coach and Get Sweat Go, he has been quoted on The Guardian and The Independent. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Goodbye planks! This 6-minute Pilates workout will help you sculpt a strong and stable core All you need is 5 minutes to build core strength and stability, according to a certified Pilates instructor 8 moves and 8 minutes are all you need to activate your deep core, sculpt your abs and improve posture, according to a Pilates instructor Skip the gym — you don’t need any equipment for this 10-minute abs workout Only 15 minutes — challenge your core from every angle with this abs bodyweight workout I did a 30-minute core workout with zero equipment — here's how my abs responded Latest in Workouts New study says these workouts don't just build strength — they improve your sleep, too I ditched music during my 30-minute workout and exercised in silence — here's what happened to my performance You only need 2 dumbbells and 6 moves to build full-body muscle and boost your metabolism This 4-2-1 workout split is going viral on TikTok — here’s how it works Forget crunches — a Pilates instructor shares 9 exercises to target your deep core Don’t own a smartwatch? 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