Pilates Abs and Obliques Workout

Today’s exercise from Margot McKinnon, founder of Body Harmonics, targets your oblique muscles—those important stabilizing (and trimming) muscles that run back to front around your waist. As always, if you feel too much strain, please take a break and start again when you feel ready.

Step 1: On knees (hip width apart) with hands on waist, tip to one side (think of leading with head) and do a little bend to the side through the ribs. Focus on feeling your top side waist muscles (the obliques). Change sides. Repeat each side several times.

Step 2: Lie on side, propped up on elbow with hips stacked and legs bent. Be sure to lift underside waist up so that torso is one long line. With ribs in at the front, press into legs and lift hips off ground. Hold to a count of 3 and then lower. Repeat several times on this side, trying to feel underside waist muscles working (from under arm to hips). Repeat on other side.

Step 3: Turn over onto back with legs bent and feet flat on floor. Place hands behind head, tip chin towards throat, anchoring through back of ribs. Lift your head and back of shoulders off the mat using abdominal muscles (careful not to push your neck with your hands). Now reach one knee in as you extend other leg out slightly (no need to straighten). Alternate one leg then the other several times (think of sliding legs in and out). Now twist upper body (focus on ribs twisting to keep strain out of neck) to opposite side bent knee. Repeat several times. Return to middle, lower legs and upper body.

As your oblique abdominals get stronger you should feel less tension in your neck and shoulders and feel more supported through your spine! Pilates Abs and Obliques Workout

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