The Undisputed Best Ab Moves, According to Pilates Instructors

It's easy enough to string these trainer-beloved exercises together into a DIY Pilates ab workout circuit you can perform at home. Perform each exercise for 15 to 45 seconds before moving onto the next.

When you're just starting out, you may want to start at the shorter end of that time range, and rest for 15 to 45 between one or two exercises. But as you grow stronger, you'll be able to add on time and rest less frequently, creating supersets of two to four exercises instead — or even trying to complete all 11 in one go before taking a break.

You can complete the list of 11 Pilates ab exercises once through, or aim to do two or three rounds for a complete Pilates ab workout circuit. But while some burn is a good thing, avoid pushing yourself too hard — taking rest when you need it will allow you to keep proper form, which can only benefit your fitness.

Maggie Ryan was an assistant editor at PS. A longtime runner and athlete, Maggie has nearly four years of experience covering topics in the wellness space, specializing in fitness, sports, nutrition, and mental health.