Quick core workout

Increasing your core strength helps to provide stability to your spine, improves posture, assists with managing lower back pain and can improve your ability to undertake daily tasks with ease. When completing these exercises, focus on good technique and stop if you experience lower back pain.

Workout sequence

Disclaimer: If you have been inactive for a while, have heart disease, or a close relative with heart disease or if you have other major health problems, or are pregnant, please check with your doctor before following these workouts.

1. Press and plank

Recommended repetitions: 10-15 each side
  1. Start in a modified side ­plank, resting on your left side with knees bent and in line with your hips
  2. Place your left elbow on the floor directly underneath your shoulder and in line with your body, having your forearm extended out in front of you to stabilise
  3. Hold a filled water bottle in your right hand, right elbow bent and weight resting against your bicep
  4. Lift your hips so your body is straight from knees to shoulders, while also pressing the water bottle up to the ceiling
  5. Lower hips back down to ground. Repeat on the opposite side

2. Supine bridge with leg extension

Recommended repetitions: 10-15
  1. Lie on back, knees bent and feet on floor, arms elevated above your head
  2. Lift hips up off the ground so that your knees, hips and shoulders are in a straight diagonal line
  3. Holding hips level, lift one foot off the ground 1-2 inches and slowly place down again and repeat with alternate leg
  4. Keep core muscles tight throughout the entire movement

3. Russian twist

Recommended repetitions: 10-15 each side
  1. Sit on floor, knees bent, with your feet lifted a few centimetres off the floor
  2. Keep your back at a 45-degree angle, arms extended with palms together
  3. Move the arms from one side to another in a twisting motion

4. Contralateral limb raises

Recommended repetitions: 10-15
  1. Lie on your stomach with your arms outstretched and palms facing down towards the ground
  2. Slowly lift one arm a few inches off the floor, keeping it straight without rotating the shoulders
  3. Simultaneously lift the leg of the other side
  4. Hold the position, then lower the arm and leg back down. Remember to breathe.

5. Mountain climber twists

Recommended repetitions: 10-15

1. Start on your hands and toes
2. Bending at the knee, bring your left knee forward directly under your chest while keeping your right leg straight
3. Quickly alternate legs while keeping your core muscles tight
4. Try to keep your body in a straight line without dipping in the low back. if this is too challenging, try doing the exercise on your knees

6. Dead bugs

Recommended repetitions: 10-15 repetitions each side
Dead bugs
  1. Lie on back with arms extended upwards and knees bent at 90 degrees with feet in the air
  2. Drop your arm and leg on the opposite side and make sure your leg doesn’t touch the floor
  3. Bring them slowly back up to starting position and repeat with opposite side

7. Three way crunches

Recommended repetitions: 8-10
  1. Lie on back, knees bent and one foot crossed over the other
  2. Perform a sequence of 3 crunches: firstly crunch to bring right elbow toward left knee, secondly crunch straight upwards, finally crunch to bring left elbow toward right knee
  3. Repeat this sequence
  4. In this exercise, you can place your hand behind your head. but be careful not to pull on your neck. Tip – use your abdominal muscles to lift your head

8. Sprinter sit up

Recommended repetitions: 10-15
  1. Lie on back with the legs straight and arms by your side, elbows bent at a 90-degree angle
  2. Sit up, bringing the left knee toward the right elbow
  3. Lower back down to starting position and repeat on the other side.

Physical Activity

Simple workouts for everyone

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Man doing squat exercise in back yard

Beginner-friendly workout

If you’re new to exercise, or have been inactive for a while, it’s best to start slow and build up

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Woman doing dead bug exercise outdoors in back yard

10 minute home workout

Don’t have time for a full 30-minute workout? No problem! This quick, at-home workout can be done in just 10

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Stability and balance

Try these stability and balance exercises to complement your cardiovascular and strength training. This will achieve many benefits such as

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Total body strength

This workout combines movements that engage multiple muscle groups and is designed to target full body muscle strength, stability and

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No running cardio

Cardiovascular activity (or cardio for short) supports heart health and helps improve endurance, energy levels and overall wellbeing. An alternative

Exercises

Sprinter sit up

Uses muscles in the stomach and hips and develops strength and coordination used in everyday movements like bending and getting