Help prevent falls — try these 6 essential ‘stability stacking’ exercises for better balance

Building core strength doesn’t have to involve long sessions or endless sit-ups. This 10-minute standing abs workout is designed to target your abs and obliques efficiently, making it perfect for anyone short on time or looking for a low-impact alternative. With just a few exercises and optional light equipment, you can strengthen your core in under 10 minutes.

Equipment Needed

Fitness trainer Kat Boley suggests grabbing a light to medium dumbbell for this workout. She personally uses a 10-pound weight. She also recommends adding an extra-light looped resistance band to increase the difficulty of each exercise. Don’t worry if you don’t own this equipment at home. You can easily swap the dumbbell for something you already have like a soup can or a water bottle. If you don’t have a resistance band you can simply do the exercises without it for an easier variation that still delivers results.

Also read

Ditch sit-ups and crunches — blast your abs in 10 minutes with this 4-move standing core workout

Workout Structure

The workout includes three rounds of four exercises. Try to complete 10-12 repetitions of each movement and make sure to do the required reps on both sides when necessary. Maintain a consistent speed & take short breaks between exercises to complete everything in less than 10 minutes. Feel free to rest longer if you need to.

Also read

Memory Exercises After 40 That Most People Ignore

Exercises

1. Standing Crunch with Dumbbell and Band: Engage your upper and lower abs while holding the dumbbell and band for added resistance.
2. Standing Side Crunch with Dumbbell: Focus on your obliques with this side-bending movement while holding the dumbbell.
3. Alternating Standing Toe-Taps: Target lower abs and coordination by tapping your toes alternately while standing.
4. Side-to-Side Toe Taps with Band: Use the resistance band to add challenge and engage obliques as you tap your toes from side to side.

Benefits

This standing workout strengthens both upper and lower abs along with the obliques. It’s a gentle alternative to floor-based exercises, reducing strain on the neck and lower back. Performing this routine consistently two to three times a week will help build core strength and stability.

Also read

Say Goodbye to Hair Dye: How a Simple Conditioner Addition Enhances Grey Hair Naturally

Progression

You can move on to longer standing workouts or add more resistance to keep challenging your core once you feel ready after this 10-minute session.

Also read

Optical Illusion Challenge: Locate 6226 Among 6262s Within 7 Seconds