Abs + Core Workouts

The 5 Best Ab Workouts for Women

Five of the best ab workouts to build a strong core, improve your balance and reduce lower back pain; making everyday activities easier. These ab workouts target your deep transverse abdominals, upper abs, lower abs and obliques. Beginner modifications and advanced options are offered for each exercise.

Build total core strength with these quick and effective best ab workouts at home.

We spend our days bending, twisting, and reaching, which is why I love functional core training. Functional exercise helps us move better in everyday life.

While a well-rounded fitness routine is important, core stability and strength are critical. Whether your goal is to increase your maximum squat weight or prevent injury from lifting a carseat or carrying a baby on your hip, it’s important to train your core from all angles and from different planes of motion.

Below you’ll find the best ab workouts to build strength in the upper and lower abs.

Under each workout video, you’ll find details about the format of each workout and equipment needed so you can easily find the workout that best fits your needs.

Best Ab Workouts FAQs

5 Best Ab Workouts For Women

1. 18 Best Ab Exercises For Women

• Equipment: No Equipment, Bodyweight Only (Optional Medium-to-Heavy Dumbbell).
• Workout Format: 9 Ab Exercises. Repeat All 9 Exercises x1 Set in Timed Intervals (40 seconds work, 20 seconds rest).
• Pregnancy/Postpartum Modifications: During pregnancy, sub our 10-Minute Pregnancy Ab Workout. You can start the beginner versions of these ab exercises after completing our diastasis recti workouts postpartum.

2. 8 Best Diastasis Recti Exercises

• Equipment: No Equipment, Bodyweight Only.
• Workout Format: 8 Diastasis Recti Exercises. Repeat All 8 Exercises x2 Sets in Timed Intervals (30 seconds of work per exercise).
• Pregnancy/Postpartum Modifications: This workout is designed to help you correct diastasis recti, strengthen your core and pelvic floor, and rebuild deep core muscles after pregnancy. If you are pregnant, you can do these exercises as long as lying on your back is comfortable.

3. 20-Minute Standing Core

• Equipment: One Medium-to-Heavy Dumbbell.
• Workout Format: 12 Standing Core Exercises with Weights. Repeat Each Exercise x2 Sets in Timed Intervals (30 seconds work, 10 seconds rest).
• Pregnancy/Postpartum Modifications: Follow the modifier and slow down moves as needed. Avoid deep rotations as your pregnancy progresses.

4. 5-Minute Ab Workout

• Equipment: No Equipment, Bodyweight Only.
• Workout Format: 5 Advanced Ab Exercises. Repeat All 5 Exercises x2 Sets in Timed Intervals (20 seconds work, 10 seconds rest).
• Pregnancy/Postpartum Modifications: If you’re pregnant, I recommend substituting this 10-Minute Pregnancy Ab Workout. If you are postpartum, try this 10-Minute Beginner Ab Workout.

5. 20-Minute Functional Core Training

• Equipment: Medium-to-Heavy Set of Dumbbells.
• Workout Format: 12 Functional Core Exercises. Repeat All 12 Exercises x2 Sets in Timed Intervals (30 seconds work, 10 seconds rest).
• Pregnancy/Postpartum Modifications: Follow the workout modifier and slow down moves as needed. As your pregnancy progresses, substitute this 10-Minute Prenatal Core Workout.

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