If you’re trying to get in shape for both your wedding and honeymoon, then this core workout is probably for you. It’s great to hone in on your upper abs, lower abs, obliques and waist—because when you work on your core, it not only helps to tighten and strengthen your midsection (hello, honeymoon abs), but helps your posture as well. Below, find 10 fitness moves—to be done for one minute each—you can try before walking down the aisle, according to Cassey Ho of Blogilates.
1. Sit Up Heel Taps
- Lie on your back, bend your knees and flex your feet with toes pointing to the sky. Lift your head, neck and shoulders off the mat in a static hold.
- Move both feet out and back in.
- When your feet are back in starting position, perform a crunch.
2. Alternating Single Leg Jack Knives
- Lie on your back with legs straight and arms extended above your head.
- Exhale using your abs to curl your upper body bringing your arms forward as you kick one leg up.
- Roll down to starting position and repeat with opposite leg.
3. Sprinter
- Lie on your back with your legs extended and arms bent to frame the face.
- Powerfully roll up to seated position, bending one knee and twisting the opposite elbow toward the knee as the same-side elbow drops to the waist.
- Roll down and repeat on the other side.
4. Half Leg Lift and Drop
- Lie on your back, lift the knees directly above your hips and bend one knee keeping the other leg extended.
- Exhale as you lift your hips off the mat pressing the arms and hands into the mat to help balance.
- With control, lower your spine and hips back to the start position, controlling leg movement.
5. Ballerina Sit Up
- Lie on your back, bend both knees bringing feet in close to the bottom, lifting your heels off the floor.
- Extend one leg and point the toe, but keep the other leg bent with the heel lifted off the floor.
- Engage the abs and exhale as you roll the torso up, keeping one leg extended.
- Roll back down with control.
6. Eagle Crunch
- Lie on your back, lift knees and stack them over your hips, crossing legs at the knee, wrapping and anchoring top foot around the bottom calf.
- Lift your arms and wrap top arm underneath bottom arm at elbow.
- Exhale as you use your abs to crunch elbows to knees.
7. Candlestick Dipper (Right Side)
- Set up on your knees keeping them hip-width apart.
- Extend one foot out to the side keeping the leg straight and the sole of the foot on the floor engaging the muscles in the extended leg.
- Extend arms overhead clasping hands together interlocking fingers and making a little steeple with your index fingers. Make sure to keep your shoulders relaxed.
- Exhale as you tip to the opposite side, engaging the obliques.
- Return to start position.
8. Candlestick Dipper (Left Side)
- Set up on your knees keeping them hip-width apart.
- Extend one foot out to the side keeping the leg straight and the sole of the foot on the floor engaging the muscles in the extended leg.
- Extend arms overhead clasping hands together interlocking fingers and making a little steeple with your index fingers. Keep your shoulders relaxed.
- Exhale as you tip to the opposite side, engaging the obliques.
- Return to start position.
9. Super Side Planker (Right Side)
- From seated position extend legs out to the side crossing at the ankle. Place hand to opposite side for balance.
- Exhale and lift your hips off the floor coming into side plank as your arm sweeps up overhead.
10. Super Side Planker (Left Side)
- From seated position extend legs out to the side crossing at the ankle. Place hand to opposite side for balance.
- Exhale and lift your hips off the floor coming into side plank as your arm sweeps up overhead.
