- Kneel on a mat with your hands and knees shoulder-width apart.
- Pull your abs in, hunch your back up and extend your spine.
- Hold the stretch and then release, push your abs back outwards to the starting position, flexing your spine as you do so.
Core Excellence
28 min
·
9 exercises
We're going to put that core under all kinds of pressure today, Give this one everything you've got! It will take you to nothing short of excellence.
Perform these nice and slowly, stretching both your back and abs as you do so.
0:30 rest
Hold the extended position for a full second if possible.
0:30 rest
40 seconds on and 20 seconds off. Even if it means slowing down, that's fine! Just don't stop!
0:45 rest
It's only 3 minutes, and 1 of those is at rest!
0:45 rest
Again, try to hold the extended position for a full second!
0:45 rest
Cheeky addition 1: Only 20 reps!
0:45 rest
Let's go for it! More work, less rest!
0:45 rest
Cheeky addition 2: You are on fire!
0:45 rest
Bring those legs up, but don't let them touch the ground.
About this workout
Core Excellence is a free 28 min workout plan with 9 illustrated exercises for your abs and back. Follow the workout online, save it to your WorkoutLabs Fit account or download it as a printable PDF.
Tap any exercise in the workout to see the muscles worked, clear exercise illustrations and step-by-step instructions. Each workout includes sets, reps, rest times and notes so you can follow the plan without guessing.
Workout details
- Duration: 28 min
- Exercises: 9
- Training focus: Abs and back
- Format: Interactive workout and printable PDF
For more ready-made training plans, try WorkoutLabs Fit. You can follow visual workouts, build your own routines, manage your training calendar and track your progress. Sign up today to claim your free week.
Questions about this workout
How long does the Core Excellence take?
The full workout takes about 28 minutes, covering 9 exercises with prescribed sets, reps and rest periods. Using the built-in timers and auto-advance keeps you on pace from start to finish.
What muscles does this workout target?
This routine primarily works your lower back, abs, obliques. Tap any exercise in the workout to see a muscle diagram showing exactly which primary and secondary muscles it activates.
How often should I do this workout?
For best results, do this workout 2–3 times per week with at least one rest day in between, and pair it with sessions that target other muscle groups.
Can I download or save this workout?
Yes – you can download this workout as a free printable PDF using the download button, or save it to a free WorkoutLabs Fit account to follow it on your phone, customize the exercises and track your progress.
Core Excellence
28 min
·
9 exercises
We're going to put that core under all kinds of pressure today, Give this one everything you've got! It will take you to nothing short of excellence.
Backward Camel Stretch
Perform these nice and slowly, stretching both your back and abs as you do so.
Primary muscle group(s):
Lower Back
Secondary:
Upper Back & Lower Traps
Bird Dogs
Hold the extended position for a full second if possible.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Lower Back
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Position yourself on all fours with knees underneath the hips and wrists under the shoulders.
- Engage your abs and keep your spine neutral, pulling the shoulder blades towards the hips.
- Lengthen the left leg until it is straight out and in line with your hips while simultaneously raising and straightening your right arm until it is parallel to the floor. Keep your head and shoulders aligned at all times.
- Gently lower your arm and leg back to the starting position and alternate with the other arm and leg.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Upper Back & Lower Traps
Secondary:
Lower Back, Shoulders
- Lay on a yoga/exercise mat or towel with your arms outstretched, palms down in front of you, and your legs outstretched with your soles facing up.
- Simultaneously lift your right arm and left leg off the floor.
- When you reach your flexion point, hold for a second before slowly lowering back down to the floor.
- Repeat the same movement with your left arm and right leg.
Primary muscle group(s):
Glutes & Hip Flexors
Secondary:
Abs
- Position yourself on all fours on a mat.
- Position your hands underneath your shoulders and place your knees under your hips.
- Keep your right knee bent at 90 degrees and flex the foot as you lift the knee until it is level with the hip.
- Lower the knee without touching the floor and repeat the lift.
- Once you’ve completed the reps on the right leg, switch legs.
Flutter Kicks
40 seconds on and 20 seconds off. Even if it means slowing down, that's fine! Just don't stop!
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Lie on a mat with your hands under your buttocks and raise your legs slightly, keeping knees straight and ankles together.
- Keep abs engaged and perform short kicks in an alternating fashion.
- Repeat as needed and then lower legs to the ground.
Alternate Heel Touches
It's only 3 minutes, and 1 of those is at rest!
Primary muscle group(s):
Obliques
Secondary:
Abs
- Lie on an exercise mat, with your back flat, knees bent and your feet flat on the floor slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Fully extend your arms down the side of your body, palms facing in. This is the start position.
- Exhaling, crunch your torso forward and to the right until you can touch your right heel with your right hand. Hold for a count of one.
- Return to the starting position smooth motion, inhaling as you do so.
- Repeat the movement, this time to your left side.
- When you have completed the movement on both sides, you have done one repetition.
- Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
- Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Alternatively, you can place your feet up on a bench a few inches apart with your toes turned inwards and touching.
- Place your hands lightly on either side of your head.
- Keep your elbows in so that they are parallel to your body.
- Push your back down flat into the floor to isolate your abdominal muscles.
- Gently curl your shoulders forward and up off the floor.
- Continue to push down into the floor with your lower back.
- Raise your shoulders about four to six inches only.
- Hold and squeeze your abdominal muscles for a count of one.
- Return to the start position in a smooth movement.
Dead Bug
Again, try to hold the extended position for a full second!
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
- Lie on your back. Extend hands straight above towards the ceiling. Bring your knees up to a 90-degree angle. Shins should be parallel to the floor. Exhale and bring hips off the floor.
- Begin by extending one leg forward. The foot should be hovering just above the ground.
- Pause then return the leg to it’s starting position while extending the opposing leg. Keep alternating legs while maintaining a tight core.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Obliques
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
- Lie flat on an exercise mat on the floor keeping your lower back straight with no arching of your spine and with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
- Place your hands lightly on the sides of your head.
- Curl your torso upwards so your shoulders are slightly raised off the floor..
- Raise your knees until your thighs are at a right angle to the floor and your calves are parallel to the floor. This is the start position.
- Slowly move your legs in a pedaling action as if you are riding a bicycle.
- As you do so, exhale and bring your opposing elbow close to each knee by crunching to one side. Left elbow to right knee. Right elbow to left knee.
- After each crunch, return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
- Without pausing, repeat the movement to the other side.
- Repeat without pausing for the desired number of repetitions to each side.
Do not use your hands to pull your head and neck up during this exercise. Doing so may cause injury. Concentrate on a slow rhythmic cycle from side to side with perfect form for each repetition.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Lie flat on an exercise mat, extending your arms straight back behind your head.
- Fully extend your legs also. This is the start position.
- Bend at your waist and at the same time, raise your legs and arms to meet in a closed jackknife position. Exhale as you do this.
- At this point, your legs should remain fully extended at between 35-45 degrees from the floor.
- Your arms should be fully extended, parallel to your legs.
- Your upper body should be raised off the floor.
- Return to the start position by lowering your arms and legs back to the floor, exhaling as you do so.
- Repeat.
Bicycles
Cheeky addition 1: Only 20 reps!
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Obliques
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
- Lie flat on an exercise mat on the floor keeping your lower back straight with no arching of your spine and with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
- Place your hands lightly on the sides of your head.
- Curl your torso upwards so your shoulders are slightly raised off the floor..
- Raise your knees until your thighs are at a right angle to the floor and your calves are parallel to the floor. This is the start position.
- Slowly move your legs in a pedaling action as if you are riding a bicycle.
- As you do so, exhale and bring your opposing elbow close to each knee by crunching to one side. Left elbow to right knee. Right elbow to left knee.
- After each crunch, return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
- Without pausing, repeat the movement to the other side.
- Repeat without pausing for the desired number of repetitions to each side.
Do not use your hands to pull your head and neck up during this exercise. Doing so may cause injury. Concentrate on a slow rhythmic cycle from side to side with perfect form for each repetition.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
- Lie on your back. Bring your knees up to a 90-degree angle. Shins should be parallel to the floor. Place your hands behind your head and bring your shoulders off the ground.
- Exhale and contract your abdominals. Bring your head towards your knees while moving your knees toward your chest.
- Pause and return to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Obliques
Secondary:
Abs
- Lie on an exercise mat, with your back flat, knees bent and your feet flat on the floor slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Fully extend your arms down the side of your body, palms facing in. This is the start position.
- Exhaling, crunch your torso forward and to the right until you can touch your right heel with your right hand. Hold for a count of one.
- Return to the starting position smooth motion, inhaling as you do so.
- Repeat the movement, this time to your left side.
- When you have completed the movement on both sides, you have done one repetition.
- Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Lie on a mat with your hands under your buttocks and raise your legs slightly, keeping knees straight and ankles together.
- Keep abs engaged and perform short kicks in an alternating fashion.
- Repeat as needed and then lower legs to the ground.
Crunches
Let's go for it! More work, less rest!
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
- Lie flat on your back with your feet flat on the ground, with your knees bent at 90 degrees. Alternatively, you can place your feet up on a bench a few inches apart with your toes turned inwards and touching.
- Place your hands lightly on either side of your head.
- Keep your elbows in so that they are parallel to your body.
- Push your back down flat into the floor to isolate your abdominal muscles.
- Gently curl your shoulders forward and up off the floor.
- Continue to push down into the floor with your lower back.
- Raise your shoulders about four to six inches only.
- Hold and squeeze your abdominal muscles for a count of one.
- Return to the start position in a smooth movement.
Primary muscle group(s):
Obliques
Secondary:
Abs
- Lie on an exercise mat, with your back flat, knees bent and your feet flat on the floor slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Fully extend your arms down the side of your body, palms facing in. This is the start position.
- Exhaling, crunch your torso forward and to the right until you can touch your right heel with your right hand. Hold for a count of one.
- Return to the starting position smooth motion, inhaling as you do so.
- Repeat the movement, this time to your left side.
- When you have completed the movement on both sides, you have done one repetition.
- Repeat.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
- Lay on a yoga/exercise mat or towel with your back flat on the floor and your legs straight and in the air with the soles of your feet facing up.
- Outstretch your arms above your chest so that they run parallel to your legs.
- Lifting your shoulders off the floor, reach up and touch your toes with your fingertips.
- Lower your shoulders back to the floor to complete one rep.
Double Crunches
Cheeky addition 2: You are on fire!
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
- Lie on your back. Bring your knees up to a 90-degree angle. Shins should be parallel to the floor. Place your hands behind your head and bring your shoulders off the ground.
- Exhale and contract your abdominals. Bring your head towards your knees while moving your knees toward your chest.
- Pause and return to the starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs, Obliques
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors, Quadriceps
- Lie flat on an exercise mat on the floor keeping your lower back straight with no arching of your spine and with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
- Place your hands lightly on the sides of your head.
- Curl your torso upwards so your shoulders are slightly raised off the floor..
- Raise your knees until your thighs are at a right angle to the floor and your calves are parallel to the floor. This is the start position.
- Slowly move your legs in a pedaling action as if you are riding a bicycle.
- As you do so, exhale and bring your opposing elbow close to each knee by crunching to one side. Left elbow to right knee. Right elbow to left knee.
- After each crunch, return to the start position inhaling as you do so.
- Without pausing, repeat the movement to the other side.
- Repeat without pausing for the desired number of repetitions to each side.
Do not use your hands to pull your head and neck up during this exercise. Doing so may cause injury. Concentrate on a slow rhythmic cycle from side to side with perfect form for each repetition.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Lie flat on an exercise mat, extending your arms straight back behind your head.
- Fully extend your legs also. This is the start position.
- Bend at your waist and at the same time, raise your legs and arms to meet in a closed jackknife position. Exhale as you do this.
- At this point, your legs should remain fully extended at between 35-45 degrees from the floor.
- Your arms should be fully extended, parallel to your legs.
- Your upper body should be raised off the floor.
- Return to the start position by lowering your arms and legs back to the floor, exhaling as you do so.
- Repeat.
Lying Leg Raises
Bring those legs up, but don't let them touch the ground.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Lower Back
- Lie on your back on a mat with hands under your lower buttocks on either side to support your pelvis.
- Legs straight out in front of you, ankles together and feet slightly off the floor.
- Keep your knees straight and raise your legs by flexing the hips until they are completely flexed.
- Return to starting position.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Glutes & Hip Flexors
- Lie on a mat with your hands under your buttocks and raise your legs slightly, keeping knees straight and ankles together.
- Keep abs engaged and perform short kicks in an alternating fashion.
- Repeat as needed and then lower legs to the ground.
Primary muscle group(s):
Abs
Secondary:
Lower Back
- Lie flat with hands under your buttocks.
- Keep your knees together and pull them in towards you while moving your torso towards them (lift your head, neck and shoulders up).
- Hold and then slowly return to starting position.
Workout done!
Exercises done
of 9
Total time
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