6 Easy Exercises to Strengthen Your Core

Tone your core with a 15-minute workout, three or four times a week.

The Routine

Okay, perhaps you’re enough of a realist to know that you’ll never have a six-pack. But exercising your core is still important: Strong abdominal and back muscles are essential for doing everyday tasks, like lifting a 20-pound toddler and putting away groceries, not to mention preventing an achy back and maintaining good posture at your desk. Break out of (boring) crunch mode and work your middle with this Pilates-inspired routine, created by Kit Rich, a Los Angeles–based Pilates instructor. Complete the workout three to four times a week to make the most of your midsection.