7 Core Moves That Are More Fun Than Situps

Shake up your abs routine with these moves, inspired from popular gym classes, belly dancing, even burlesque

By: Erin Hicks

Funky Moves, Real Results!

Photo Credit: Thinkstock
In your quest for a toned tummy, the situp isn’t your only option—there are plenty of moves you can do in the comfort of your living room that require no gear—just a little creativity. We asked Tracey Mallett, ACE and AFAA certified personal trainer and Gold’s Gym Fitness Institute expert, and Kristin Anderson celebrity fitness trainer and founder of MyDailyTrainer.com, for unique ways to mix up a mundane core routine. They suggested the following moves, adapted from popular gym classes, martial arts—even burlesque. None of these exercises require any equipment, and you don’t have to crunch for hours to see results. You’ll never look at your abs workout the same way again.

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Figure Eights

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Where we’ve seen it before: Belly dancing, Latin dancing

How to do it: Stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees bent. Move your hips in a sideways “eight” motion. Starting with the right, take your hips up, around and center, and then take your left hip up, around, and center.

How many reps: “Put on your favorite song and do this move for the whole length of the track,” says Mallett.

Why it works: “Belly dancing is awesome for your internal and external obliques because of the gyration in the hips, and it’s also great for your core,” says Mallett. “You are working your abdominals and obliques at the same time, so it’s a really good move to tone the waist.”

Make it harder: Lift your heels off the floor. “This makes the workout more intense because you’ll be a little off balance. This intensifies your abdominal contractions.”

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Pelvic Tilt

Photo Credit: John Hamel

Where we've seen it before: Pilates

How to do it: Go on all fours so your back is in a neutral position. Tilt the pelvis as if you're bringing your pubic bone towards your belly button. Exhale and draw in the abdominals. "This causes the pelvis to tilt," says Mallett. "As you pull your abs in, you activate the deep abdominal muscles that cause the pelvis to tilt."

How many reps: Do 10 to 15. "It's about focusing on the form, not the quantity," says Mallett.

Why it works: "While you inhale, you're working your whole abdominal core—the same muscles you work while doing a situp," says Mallet. But what makes this move different from the traditional situp can be explained in one breath. "During the exhale, you activate the tranverse muscles—the deepest muscles in your abdominals that often get neglected with incorrect form when you're doing the situp," says Mallett.

Make it harder: Add a small ball between your legs and draw the pelvic floor up like an elevator to intensify the abs.

Search: How to perform a pelvic tilt

Knee Thrust

Photo Credit: Beth Bischoff

Where we've seen it before: Martial arts

How to do it: Start in a lunge position with your right leg forward and your hands forward at shoulder height (similar to the warrior pose in yoga). Shifting the weight of your body to the right leg, thrust your left knee towards the chest, as if you're trying to jam your left knee into someone's chin. At the same time, bend your elbows back, as if you're grabbing their face with your hands. As your knee goes forward, your core should tighten as your hips move forward and your torso leans back.

How many reps: Practice 10 on the right side, 10 on the left.

Why it works: "This move is a core balance challenge that forces your abdominals to stabilize you, since your leg is off the ground. Going from a balanced to unbalanced position challenges your whole core," says Mallett.

Make it harder: Go faster—now you have to work even harder to stabilize and not fall over.

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Standing Side Crunch

Photo Credit: Thinkstock
Where we’ve seen it before: Hip hop dance, martial arts, ballet

How to do it: Stand with your left leg turned out and your right leg at a point with your heel up off the floor, but make sure your leg is straight. Place your right hand behind the head with the elbow bent and put your left hand on your left hip. Side bend towards the right side—while doing this bring your right knee cap and elbow down so they meet somewhere around hip height. Return to start.

How many reps: Do 10 to the right, 10 to the left.

Why it works: You’re standing on one leg, which forces balance and core stabilization. It works on slimming down the waist because it focuses on the obliques, whereas the situp works on the six pack—the muscles right up front. This move works your waist and stomach to make those parts look slimmer.

Make it harder: Shorten the range of motion with 10 to 15 tiny pulses before you put your leg to the ground.

Single-Leg Kicks

Photo Credit: Thinkstock
Where we've seen it before: Burlesque

How it works: Sit on the floor with your knees bent, feet planted, and torso tall, leaning back on your elbows. Using your stomach, kick your left toe to the ceiling and then bring it down to tap the floor. Next, do the same with your right foot. Continue alternating leg kick/toe tap while keeping your stomach engaged.

How many reps: Continue for 30 to 60 seconds.

Why it works: “This exercise works your pelvic floor, hip flexors, low back, abs, and obliques. It also challenges your balance, making it much more dynamic than a situp,” says Anderson.

Make it harder: Instead of supporting your torso with your elbows, extend your arms straight out in front of you while you kick your legs.

Plank Leg Shoot

Photo Credit: Beth Bischoff

Where we've seen it before: Capoeira

How it works: Start on all fours then plant your toes into the ground. Engage your abs and lift your knees up so you are in a plank position with your legs wide apart. Using your abs, take your left foot under and across your body to where your right hand is while you simultaneously lift your right hand to the ceiling, opening your body to the right. Pause for a moment, then return to your starting position. Repeat with the right foot to left hand. Continue alternating shooting your leg forward and opening up your body.

How many reps: 20 reps total, 10 on each side

Why it works: This exercise engages your entire trunk as well as your hips, chest, and shoulders. When the movement is done repeatedly, it becomes a cardiovascular workout because you’re moving fast and getting your heart rate up, in addition to challenging your muscles, says Anderson.

Make it harder: Instead of just opening your hand to the sky when you foot shoots forward, take your hand all of the way to the other side with your chest facing up. Both hands wind up facing perpendicular to your torso, almost like you are ready to do a "crab walk." Then return to start and do it on the other side for 20 reps total, 10 on each side.

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Lying Floor Wipers

Photo Credit: Beth Bischoff

Where we've seen it before: Mixed martial arts

How it works: Lie flat on the floor with your hands out to the sides, head on the ground, and feet and legs straight to the ceiling. Press down into the floor with your hands, and, with a controlled movement, lower your legs all the way to the ground on the right. Using your abs, move your legs back up and all the way over to the left. That is one rep.

How many reps: Continue for 10 reps.

Why it works: “This challenges your whole trunk and lower back,” says Anderson. Plus, it burns more calories than situps by forcing you to move a bigger load (both of your legs) in a more dynamic motion.

How to make it harder: Instead of just taking your legs side to side, take them in a full circle, including up and over your head.