I started 2026 with the original goal of working out at least twice a week, and I’ve fallen short of that goal so far, but every day is a new opportunity to step up my training routine. I have scheduled some short core sessions for the coming weeks to try and get myself back on track.
My main goal with these workouts is to support my running by strengthening my deep core muscles and building stability that helps me maintain my running form deep into long races like marathons.
That’s one reason why I love Pilates, because it’s great for building deep strength and endurance in your core muscles, and it doesn’t require a very long workout to do that.
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This 10-minute workout from Pilates instructor Move With Nicole is ideal for building the kind of strength and stability I’m after. All you need for the workout is a Pilates or yoga mat and space to stretch your arms and legs, including to the sides.
Get moving with Nicole’s 10-minute Pilates workout
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Nicole exercises with you and gives instructions and cues via voiceover, so you can follow her moves even if you’re not always looking at your screen during the workout.
The exercise is a quick and effective way to work on improving your core and glute strength, and I’d say it’s suitable for most fitness levels, although if you’re a Pilates beginner, you may need some extra breaks.
I had a lunch meeting before noon; Here are my main observations.
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With only 10 minutes of training time, it’s no surprise that there’s very little warm-up involved with the workout, and before you know it, you’re in a Pilates session.
This is one of my favorite exercises to do at home, and it really tests your endurance, so having it at the beginning of a session gets the abs burning right away.
The exercise focuses on two main areas
Again, because training time is limited, workouts are designed to go deep in two areas, rather than spreading the work around multiple muscle groups.
You start with a long set of core-focused moves to work your upper and lower abs, with some work on your obliques, then move on to two sets of work on your glutes, doing each side in turn.
This means that some parts of your body become lighter than they would with a long Pilates workout, but it also means that the session is more effective in working the target area.
Focus on breathing
You should always be aware of your breathing during Pilates and time your movements with inhalation and exhalation to make them more effective, and also to make the harder parts of the exercises feel a little easier.
Nicole instructs you on breathing in and out with each exercise, and focusing on this will not only improve your workout, but I know it can prevent burnout in your muscles.
The workout builds tension throughout each set
Instead of a traditional workout structure with work and rest periods, this session involves layering movements on top of each other to increase difficulty over time.
This means that when you start a set, the first movement may feel very easy, but don’t be fooled by this, as you will increase the challenge of the exercise by adding or changing movements to target the same muscles over time, without any breaks.
I find this method great for building core strength and endurance for my running, and it also means that during a 10-minute session, the least amount of time is spent resting, so you get a lot done in the short time you have to train.
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