Quick Abs
A quick Pilates core routine, warm the spine, work the classic stomach series, then gently extend to finish. Move from your center and keep the belly flat, not domed.
A gentle lift, throughout. On every move, lightly draw up through your pelvic floor, a soft lift from the base, never a clench, while you keep breathing. New to it? Start with Pelvic Floor Foundations →
Breathe. One rule runs through every move, inhale to prepare, exhale to curl and connect. It’s taught step by step in Pilates for Beginners →; everywhere after, it’s simply understood. Hold the stretches for about 5 slow breaths, that’s at least 30 seconds; if you finish quicker, you’re breathing too fast, so slow it down. For a calming anchor, try Five Finger Breathing: with a fingertip, trace up each finger as you breathe in and down as you breathe out, five fingers, five breaths.
Scissors
8–10 sets
8–10 each
Move 3 →Single Leg Stretch
8–10 sets
8–10 each
Move 4 →Double Leg Stretch
8–10 reps
6–8
Move 5 →Spine Stretch Forward
8–10 reps
3–4
Move 6 →Quick Abs
A quick Pilates core routine, warm the spine, work the classic stomach series, then gently extend to finish. Move from your center and keep the belly flat, not domed.
The Way · by Gina Santangelo · ginasantangelo.com · Learn each move at ginasantangelo.com/movement