Latest news with #Pilates-inspired
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Pamela Reif calls this her 'pretty abs and arms' workout — my muscles would like a word
Back during the time of Covid lockdown, when kitchens doubled as gyms and 'snatched waists' were the internet's fitness obsession, workout videos promising washboard abs and toned arms were everywhere. Fitness influencers like Pamela Reif and Chloe Ting went viral with quick, equipment-free routines that racked up millions of views. At Tom's Guide, we've tested plenty of them (more on that below), so when I spotted Reif's recent 'pretty abs and arms' workout doing the rounds, I was curious. These days, I tend to stick to workouts from certified trainers over fitness influencers. I care far less about what a routine claims it will make me look like and more about how it supports my strength, mobility and energy in daily life. But maybe it was nostalgia, or the intrigue of a workout with a title bold enough to promise 'pretty' abs and arms. Either way, I wanted to know more. So I pulled on my best gym leggings and gave it a go. I usually prefer not to know the workout structure beforehand because if I do, I tend to talk myself out of it. So I dove into Reif's "pretty arms and abs" routine blind, only knowing it was just 12 minutes long. The little time commitment required from this workout was one of the factors that drew me in. Each exercise lasts 30 seconds, with repeats only when switching sides. Personally, I find workouts with no repeats, especially for abs, feel quicker. But the lack of breaks between moves made this one feel intense, especially during the two extra 30-second pulsing sections she added early in the workout. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. That said, pausing during a core workout can sometimes make it feel harder to restart, so I can't blame Reif for the relentless no-rest structure. I made it to the end with my core still intact, though feeling the burn. Lululemon Align leggings are perfect for workouts like this Pilates-inspired routine, thanks to their stretchy, lightweight fabric that moves with you without restricting any of the slow, controlled movements. Plus, you can save $29! If you're not into traditional ab workouts packed with sit-ups, Russian twists and planks, you'll probably enjoy this core routine from Reif. It leans on Pilates-inspired moves for a slower, more controlled challenge. Pilates keeps your core working the whole time, helping to build strength, improve posture and boost stability. I also think that's why Reif calls this her 'pretty arms and abs' workout. It's a very elegant sequence. Or at least, it looks that way when she does it. I'm not sure my cross-legged pike plank into cobra looked quite as smooth, but I enjoyed getting into the flow. It felt much gentler than a crunch-heavy core session and easier to stay consistent with, thanks to the slow and controlled movement. Have you ever heard of an "elegant push-up"? I hadn't either until five minutes into the routine, when Reif demonstrated one. She started in a kneeling push-up position, lifted one leg behind her, kept the other bent with the foot pointing upward, then performed 30 seconds of push-ups in that pose. Elegant might be the word for it, but only if you stay completely focused. A quick glance in the mirror reminded me that this move only looks graceful if your core is switched on and your legs stay steady in the correct position. Later in the workout, she added "lizard push-ups". I knew the stretch version of this move from a challenge my colleague Sam did, where she held the lizard pose every day for a week. It's a brilliant hip opener, but adding a push-up takes it to another level. This version challenged my mobility, core strength and upper body all at once. It was tricky to nail these moves in 30 seconds, but I really enjoyed learning new moves that I could use to switch up my core workouts. I'll admit I was a little sceptical going in. I don't usually trust workouts that suggest you can change how your body looks after just 12 minutes, especially ones with titles like 'pretty abs and arms.' But I ended up enjoying it far more than I expected. The Pilates-inspired moves flowed together in a way that felt controlled and satisfying when I got the exercises right. While I'm not sure I emerged with visibly different arms or abs, I did feel stronger and enjoyed the challenge. If you want to try Ting and Reif's workouts, this lower ab workout with 18 million views is Pamela Reif's creation, and this Chloe Ting ab workout has over 420 million views.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Goodbye planks! This 6-minute Pilates workout will help you sculpt a strong and stable core
Time (or a lack of it) is often cited as the reason I skip a workout. Whether it's because I've woken up later than I had hoped and have missed my allocated slot to work out, or I've decided to work through my lunch break in order to get my to-do list ticked off. When you're spinning lots of plates, something's got to give. And this year, it's my fitness regime that's often been the first thing to be ditched in favour of something else. However, in 2025, I think we can all agree that workouts don't need to be long, super sweaty, or tedious to 'count' as being effective. If armed with the right workout, you can achieve a lot in not a lot of time at all. But does a six-minute workout still hit the spot? After coming across this short and speedy abs workout from qualified physiotherapist and Pilates trainer Lilly Sabri, I decided to see for myself. After rolling out a yoga mat, I was good to go. Spoiler alert: my abs are still on fire! I'm a fan of most of Sabri's YouTube workouts because they tend to be Pilates-inspired, quick and not-so-easy, so it still feels like you're challenging your body despite the limited time you've got to do it in. And this six-minute deep core session is just that! Containing 12 Pilates moves, the idea is to complete each exercise for 30 seconds, with no rests in between. For example, some of the moves include: Six minutes can be enough time to work out — especially if it's all you've got. As I found after completing the first two exercises, my core was all fired up and feeling like it had been put through its paces. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. That's because Pilates is all about performing slow and controlled movements with the correct form that matches your breath. Doing so helps you move steadily and with precision during each exercise, which can then help you maximize the time under tension for your deep core muscles. And that it does! For example, during the Pilates roll-ups, instead of completing as many reps of this move as possible during the 30-second stint, I focused on inhaling as I was slowly rolling my torso up and my arms reaching forward and then exhaling as I articulated through my spine, vertebrae by vertebrae, back down until I was lying flat on the mat. And this was a technique that was instilled into each move. Doing so meant my core muscles were engaged the whole time, which helped me get more bang for my buck. So after completing all 12 of the best pilates exercises for my core, my trunk certainly knew it had had a workout. Due to the fact that there are no rests in between each of these moves, you are therefore engaging your muscles for a sustained period of time through a series of controlled movements, which helped me boost my muscular endurance. Plus, while the workout was over before I knew it, it provided me with some much-needed headspace before the busy day began. I'd say this workout is ideal if you're short on time, as you'll still feel the burn (sometimes in muscles you didn't know you had) even if you've only got six minutes spare. In a perfect world, we'd be sticking to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which recommend adults complete muscle-strengthening activities on all major muscle groups two or more days a week. So, of course, a short bout of Pilates can help get you closer to this goal, but if time allows, it shouldn't be the only workout you do. Either way, whether you try out this workout on its own, incorporate it into your full-body workout, or as an abs finisher, you're bound to feel a handful of the benefits Pilates brings.
Tom's Guide
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
No time for the gym? Build and sculpt your legs with this equipment-free lower-body workout instead
Thinking about skipping the gym? You're not alone. But a solid workout doesn't need to happen there. This 10-minute Pilates-inspired routine is perfect for leg day and easy to do right from your living room. This workout comes from online fitness instructor Lily Sabri and is designed to give you a class-like experience in just 10 minutes. Whether you're a Pilates pro or new to the practice, don't be fooled by how gentle it looks. The routine targets smaller, often-overlooked muscles to build real strength and tone your lower half. Pop on something comfortable — our guide to the best gym leggings can help if you're looking for ideas — and roll out a mat to stay supported on the floor. With one minute on each move and just five seconds of rest in between, Sabri's routine is quick and effective. The trainer provides clear audio cues throughout, letting you know where to place your bodyweight, which muscles to engage and when to breathe or relax. Trust me, I am going to have your legs absolutely on fire by the end of this workout. Sabri's guidance is both encouraging and there to challenge you. Throughout various moves, she offers small tips to increase the intensity, such as lowering deeper into a squat. She also tells you where to focus your bodyweight, when to breathe and how to stay engaged throughout. 'Trust me, I am going to have your legs absolutely on fire by the end of this workout,' she says in the video. If you've ever assumed Pilates is just slow stretching on a mat, think again. While it might look low impact from the outside, those small, controlled movements can leave your muscles shaking. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. That's because Pilates focuses on building strength from the inside out. It targets deep core muscles, stabilizers and those smaller muscles you didn't even know existed until they started burning. If you're new to it, you might also enjoy reading the guide 3 things I wish I had known as a Pilates beginner by my colleague Sam, who breaks down the basics and what to expect in your first few sessions. Pilates is all about precision and control, unlike weight training, which often works larger muscle groups using heavy resistance. It uses your own bodyweight or sometimes small equipment like bands or rings to create tension and challenge your muscles in subtle (but seriously effective) ways. You won't be doing deadlifts or bench presses, but you will still feel the burn differently. Pilates is also a great way to tone your muscles. It helps to strengthen your body without necessarily adding bulk. That's why people often claim it gives a more sculpted or lean look. But it isn't just about appearances. Pilates also helps with posture, balance and overall mobility. The more you practice it, the longer you'll be able to go, the more challenging moves you'll manage and you might even find yourself reaching for a pair of light dumbbells to up the ante.
Tom's Guide
10-05-2025
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Short on time? This 30-minute standing HIIT class will boost your metabolism and build strength
While the past few years have seen the rise (and rise) of low-intensity workouts, like Pilates and yoga, grow in popularity, there's still a very valid case for adding in some high-intensity interval training (HIIT) into your workouts. For starters, this high-energy, heart-raising workout style can give your metabolism a boost while increasing your cardiovascular endurance. This sweat-inducing workout can also reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels and help you gain maximum results in minimal time. But, better yet? You just need enough space to roll out a yoga mat and enough motivation to move your body to get going. The good news is that this standing 30-minute HIIT workout from Eleni Fit comes with a Pilates-inspired twist. Mixing popular Pilates moves, like standing leg lifts, crunches and a roll-down, this workout gives you the best of both worlds as you'll see and feel the benefits this low-impact form of exercise brings, but it's wrapped up neatly into a time-saving HIIT workout. Fitness trainer Eleni suggests warming up before jumping into this workout. In total, there are around 20 exercises featured in this workout. HIIT is a workout style that alternates between short bursts of intense exercise and brief recovery periods. Therefore, the idea with this session is to complete each exercise for 40 seconds before resting for 10 seconds. In your rest period, Eleni demonstrates how to complete the next move with the right form. This will give you enough time to just about recover before you head into the next Pilates-inspired move. As we mentioned, all of the moves in this workout are bodyweight. But don't be fooled into thinking they won't get your heart rate up. For example, there's a side lunge and reach, narrow squat kicks, balancing butt pulses and a plié side crunch followed by a reach up. All exercises take inspiration from common Pilates moves, but instead of repeating them eight or 10 times as you might in a usual mat class, you'll be completing them as many times as is possible (without losing your form) until the 40-second timer is up. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Doing so will help you increase your strength, give your endurance a boost, and raise your heart rate while adhering to a low-impact style of working out. When you've completed the first 10 exercises, you'll get a handy 60-second water break before ticking off the final 10. Of course, if you find you need to rest for longer, or some of the exercises are too challenging to complete for 40 seconds, listen to your body without going over the top. Along with being organized into a HIIT session, many of these moves are supersets, which is a training technique where two exercises are performed back-to-back with minimal rest in between. Not only can this style of training promote greater muscle growth, but it can help you get more bang for your buck as you're doing twice the amount of moves in the same amount of time.
