7 Quick Pilates Moves for an Anywhere Workout

I hadn’t taken a Pilates class in awhile, and a recent one seriously kicked my butt. So to kick yours (hehe) we’ve got a quick Pilates workout anyone can do anywhere, courtesy of Adrianne Yurgosky and Uptown Pilates in NYC. Click on to get your workout…no equipment needed! 

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I am always on the go! Between teaching, meetings, cardio, social events, traveling and daily life activities, I do not always have the time to do a full hour of Pilates. However, I know that I can squeeze in five to 10 minutes between running around Manhattan.

Below, I have provided seven exercises that can help you work your core and stay stretched despite your busy schedule. I always give these to my clients, especially those who travel a lot. I even did this mini routine last week while driving out to the Midwest! The beauty of the workout is that you don’t have to take anything with you, so there are no excuses. It doesn’t matter where you are. Put down a towel on the floor, or a mat if you have one, or do it outside on the grass. This series of exercises will help you work your abdominals and stretch out your spine to keep you strong and healthy.

7 Quick Pilates Moves for an Anywhere Workout

The Hundred

Notice the energy through her arms and legs and the space between her chin and her chest.

Setup: Bend knees into your chest and curl head and neck up off of your mat, bringing your forehead toward your knees. Extend your arms parallel to the mat so that they are right to the sides of your hip bones and extend your legs to a 45 degree angle (or to a table top, with your shins parallel to the mat and at a right angle with your thighs and your knees lined up right on top of your hips).

Execution: Keeping your head and shoulders curled off of the mat, pump your arms up and down vigorously as you breathe deeply, inhaling for 5 counts and exhaling for 5 counts.

Reps: Repeat 10 times