Harvard Medical School Core Exercises: 6 workouts to tighten your abs, strengthen your back, and improve balance

In this report, you ll learn ways to slip these essential exercises into even the busiest schedule. The six core workouts in this report feature exercises that emphasize moves you make during sports and everyday life. We ll show you how to set achievable goals and work smart, rather than wasting time you d rather spend elsewhere. Twenty to 40 minutes a few times a week or even just five minutes a day is all the time you need. We ve skipped standard crunches in favor of more challenging exercises designed to buff more than one muscle group at a time. And all of the exercises can be made easier or harder, depending on your current level of core fitness.

This Special Health Report was prepared by the editors of Harvard Health Publications in consultation with Faculty Editor Edward M. Phillips, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School and Director and Founder, Institute of Lifestyle Medicine, as well as Master Trainers and Fitness Consultants Josie Gardiner and Joy Prouty.