By now, you'll likely have read about how effective a Pilates ab workout can be not only to strengthen and tone but also to injury-proof your body.
Pilates exercises are all the rage at the moment - largely because it's a low-impact workout that's accessible to all and promises to strengthen your entire body. It's a favourite among celebrities including Halle Berry, Reese Witherspoon, and even Harry Styles (he was spotted reaping the Reformer Pilates results in a London studio earlier this year).
Why? Well, because the benefits of Pilates are far-reaching - according to Pilates coach and founder of London-based studio X-Clubs Amanda Baracho, "it’s unique in that it works your body and mind at the same time, creating a strong mind-body connection."
Fun fact: Pilates blends six key principles: concentration, control, centre, flow, precision and breathing. "In a Pilates exercise, you carry out precise, controlled, and purposeful movements, focusing your mind, which helps you build greater body awareness. The result is a body with enhanced strength, mobility, balance, flexibility, stability, and a mind that's more in tune with your body," she adds.
So why a Pilates ab workout specifically? Well, doing ab-specific Pilates exercises will not only improve your posture, but boost your strength, flexibility, and muscle tone (not to mention your mental wellbeing).
One of the main focuses of the workout is your core - as Baracho explains, "Pilates teaches you to engage your core efficiently, both to protect your back and achieve precise movements with your arms and legs." It aims to teach you how to use your core in a more efficient, effective and comprehensive way. "This boosts strength and often results in a much leaner waistline," continues the expert.
She adds that over time and after regular Pilates practice, you’ll automatically use your postural muscles to anchor you. "Every time you move it'll be like completing a mini ab workout throughout your day."
If you're totally new to the sport, our extensive guide to Pilates for beginners and Pilates vs yoga will help you learn more. But for now - keep scrolling for one of the most effective Pilates ab workouts you can try from the studio, gym or home. Happy sweating.
Pilates ab workout: this is one of the best (and you can do from home)
1. Single leg stretch
How to: Lying on your back with a double tabletop position, curl up your neck and shoulders to reach your arms elongate your arms to place your hands onto the outside of your shins.
Breathe in to prepare your body to move, then, breathe out as you straighten your right leg forwards in line with the hip. Simultaneously place the right hand on the left knee while drawing the left leg in towards your chest.
Breathe in bending the right leg towards your chest, then, breathe out as you lengthen the left leg away. Positioning your left hand on the right knee and the right hand on the right shin.
How long: Aim to repeat five times.
2. Double leg stretch
How to: Lying on your back with a double tabletop position, curl up your neck and shoulders to reach your arms elongate your arms to place your hands onto the outside of your shins.
Breathe in and straighten both legs on a low diagonal. Simultaneously reach your arms overhead. Then, breathe out as you bend both legs back in towards your chest, simultaneously circle the arms around to return to the starting position.
How long: Aim to repeat ten times.
3. Single straight leg stretch
How to: Lying on your back with both legs elongated towards the ceiling, curl up your neck and shoulders to reach your arms placing your hands on the outside of your shins.
Breathe in to prepare, then, breathe out as you lower the left leg straight towards the mat, stretching it out in line with your hip. Simultaneously pull the right leg towards you with a controlled double pulse
Breathe in to return the left leg back up and simultaneously begin to lower the right leg. Finally, take one final breath out as you pull the left leg towards you while lowering the right leg toward the mat.
How long: Aim to repeat five times.
4. Double straight leg stretch
How to: Lying on your back with both legs elongated towards the ceiling, curl up your neck and shoulders to reach your hands behind your head to support your neck.
Breathe in to prepare, then, breathe out to lower both legs straight towards the mat as far as you can control, without arching or straining your back.
Breathe in as you return both legs towards your body - aim for control here, she recommends.
How long: Aim to repeat up to ten times.
5. Criss cross
How to: Lying on your back with both legs bed on double tabletop position, curl up neck and shoulders to reach your hands behind your head to support your neck.
Breathe in to prepare to move, then, breathe out straightening your left leg away from you, while you rotate your head and upper body to the right bringing your right leg towards your left elbow.
Breathe in to bring both legs back to start position and breathe out to change to the other leg. Stay curled up throughout the exercise.
How long: Aim to repeat up to five times.
To finish
Lie down on your stomach and bring your hands in front of your shoulders to push yourself up on extension.
"This stretches your abdominal muscles," shares the coach. Alternatively, give our round up of the best cool down exercises a go.
Shop our Editor's favourite Pilates kit
Health Editor Ally Head is a big fan of this bra, wearing it for yoga, Pilates, and at home workouts. It's soft to the touch, long line, and supports and sweat wicks well, too.
Made from organic cotton, these Pilates socks have a grippy base to make your mat work slip free and a cross strap to ensure they stay secure. There's a reason they're our team's go-to.
Level up your at home workouts with these Bala ankle or wrist weights, a Marie Claire UK team favourite. They add just the right amount of resistance to your Pilates sessions to activate key muscles and build strength.
Any workout will be ten times more enjoyable if you're wearing the right kit, like these butter soft leggings from Bamboo. The climate positive company make high end leggings that don't harm the planet in the process. Invest in these leggings for a stretchy, supportive, and sweat-wicking wear ideal for any sweat session.
Level up your at-home workouts with these essential items of Pilates kit, including a balance ball and Pilates ring.
Save on washing with this all-in-one unitard from athleisurewear brand Varley. It might feel like a bold investment, sure, but Health Ed Ally Head swears by hers, wearing it for low-impact sessions.
Is 20 minutes of Pilates a day enough?
Studies have found regular participation in Pilates improves your overall health and well-being, shares Baracho - that said, how long should you be aiming for each day?
20 minutes is a sufficient amount of time for a good workout if you utilise the correct form and focus throughout the session. Also, note that working out every single day isn't advised - you need to give your body sufficient time to recover from all that exercise, after all.
Baracho also advises opting for comfortable, non-restrictive clothing that you can move freely in and focusing on your breathing to get the most from your session.
Can you get abs from Pilates?
While Pilates is cemented as one of the best workouts you can do for boosting core strength, having abdominal muscles that visibly show depends on a wide range of factors, most notably your genetic makeup and body fat percentage.
That's right - some people are more likely to have "abs" than others due to their genetic makeup. Rather than focusing on aesthetics and workouts that promise to make you look a certain, why not prioritise workouts that you enjoy that make you feel strong, confident, and capable? Aesthetic gains will follow.
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