Set Your Obliques Ablaze With This 15-Minute Pilates Workout

The obliques don’t get nearly as much attention as the front of the abs (whatever, overrated six packs), but that’s gotta change. “Your obliques are the muscles through the side of your waist,” says Pilates instructor Chloe De Winter. “They’re one of your abdominal muscles, and there’s actually two of them—your internal and external obliques. They help build stability through the sides of your body.”

Typically, working your obliques means doing exercises like Russian twists, bicycle crunches, and cross-body mountain climbers. Or carrying home all your grocery bags from Trader Joe’s. But you can bring the burn to your side abs Pilates-style, too. In the latest episode of Good Moves, De Winter will take you through a handful of different Pilates oblique exercises that will allow you to work your core in an entirely new—and incredibly challenging—way.

It only takes 30 seconds into this workout—seriously, I’m not joking—to realize that your abs are going to be on fire for a full 15 minutes. Starting with kneeling side bends and pulses, you’ll have to use every last bit of your oblique strength in order to curl your body up and down. Then after making your way through some side planks, tabletop twists (the tiny movement that brings on big results!), and supine curls, you’ll be well on your way to a stronger core from every angle.

When you’re ready to work up a sweat with De Winter, press play on the workout above. Even a short workout featuring these Pilates oblique exercises will leave you sweating.