10 Minute Core Tightening Workout | 7 Exercises to Tone Your Core

Our core plays a central role in the strength of our entire body. It helps maintain healthy posture, running form and balance full body strength. However, many of us have core muscles that are underused or completely inactive without even realizing it.

An inactive core can cause our muscles to sag and bulge, which is why so many people want to tighten their core.

Tightening your core not only helps you look confident and feel better about your appearance, but it contributes greatly to the strength of your entire body.

Free Download: 30 Day Core Workout Challenge

These 7 core tightening exercises are an effective way to tone your tummy and strengthen those ab muscles without requiring any extra equipment. Each core exercise utilizes your own bodyweight to create resistance for a fast workout you can do at home.

This 10 Minute Core Tightening Workout is a simple way to strengthen your core and gain defined ab muscles in a very short amount of time.

Try these core tightening exercises right in your living room to get started strengthening those muscles!

10 Minute Core Tightening Workout

• Ankle Touches x 40
• Flutter Kicks x 40
• Russian Twists x 50
• Legs Down x 30
• Elbow Plank x 60 seconds
• Bent Leg Hip Lifts x 20
• Bicycles x 40

7 Core Tightening Exercises – Pictures & Descriptions

Ankle Touches

Begin by lying flat on your back, with knees bent and soles of the fleet planted on the floor. Extend your arms down towards your sides, and use your core muscles (not your neck) to lift your shoulders and upper back a few inches off the floor.

Reach your hands down towards your ankles, and quickly alternate back and forth to touch one ankle and then the other. Keep your upper back elevated the entire time, making sure there is no tension in your neck or jaw.

Flutter Kicks

Continue lying flat on your back and extend your legs straight out in front of you. Bring your hands to the back of your head as you use your core muscles to lift your shoulders and upper back a few inches off the floor.

Lift both legs into the air and then quickly alternate lifting one higher than the other, as if your legs were fluttering in the air. Keep your shoulders and upper back elevated the entire time, making sure there is no tension in your neck or jaw.

Russian Twists

Begin this core exercise seated on the floor, with knees bent and the soles of your feet planted on the floor in front of you. Lean back slightly with your upper body, while lifting both feet to hover a few inches above the floor.

Bring both hands to one side of your hips and quickly alternate back and forth from side to side. Keep your feet elevated and upper body tilted back throughout this movement.

Legs Down

Lie down flat on your back and lift your legs up straight into the air, forming a 90 degree angle with your body at the hips. Keeping your legs straight the entire time, slowly lower them towards the floor with control.

Continue to lower until your feet hover a few inches above the floor, and then lift them back up to their original position. Be sure to keep your legs straight and arms down at your sides throughout this core exercise.

Straight Arm Plank

Begin this core exercise on hands and knees, and then walk both feet back out behind you until your legs are completely straight. Balance your weight evenly between your hands and feet, keeping your body straight like a board.

Hold this position for 60 seconds, making sure your back does not arch and hips do not sag at any point.

Related: 15 Plank Variations to Quickly Strengthen Your Core

Bent Leg Hip Lifts

Lie flat on your back and bring your knees up towards your chest, lifting your feet off the floor. Keep your arms down at your sides on the floor, and use your core muscles to lift your hips and knees into the air.

Continue lifting your hips, bringing your knees into the air above your head with control. Then, lower your hips back down towards the floor and continue to repeat.

Bicycles

Lower your body back down to the floor and lie flat on your back with your legs stretched out in straight. Bring your hands back behind your head and use your core muscles to lift your shoulders and upper back a few inches above the floor.

Lift both feet off the floor and bend one leg, bringing the knee in towards your core. Reach towards your knee with the opposite elbow, and then quickly alternate back and forth between sides, moving your legs as if you were riding a bicycle.

Whether you are involved in a weight loss journey, working your way through the postpartum period, or have just failed to give your core the attention it deserves, these core tightening exercises are an effective way to gain strength and confidence.

Tighten your core to gain the abs you’ve always wanted, without ever having to leave your house. Try this 10 Minute Core Strengthening Workout right in your living room for a healthy burn each week!

More core workout ideas:

• 15 Minute Crunchless Core Workout
• 10 Bodyweight Core Exercises for an Epic Ab Workout
• 20 Minute Bodyweight Tabata Core Workout