Is five minutes enough to build core strength? I put this quick abs Pilates routine to the test

I generally spend around 45 minutes to an hour in the gym a few times a week. But sometimes, I simply don’t have the time or energy, particularly during the festive period when the days are short and my social calendar is full.

To ensure I’m still moving my body—which is essential for my mental health—I focus on quick five-minute exercise snacks and workouts that pack a punch.

One of my favorite Pilates instructors, Georgia Weibel, recently shared a workout that ticks that box. It’s a five-move routine designed to set your core on fire.

I tested this workout on a day I slept in too late to make it to the gym, to see if I could really challenge myself in such a short space of time.

How to do Georgia Weibel’s quick abs routine

You don’t need any equipment to do this workout, although an exercise mat might be useful. There are five moves in this routine and Weibel recommends completing eight repetitions (reps) of each on both sides of the body.

My experience trying Georgia Weibel’s quick abs routine

Pilates routines like this one always surprise me. Although the movements are slow and controlled, they make my muslces burn like nothing else. A few reps into the first exercise, the muscles in my core, glutes, hamstrings and arms switched on and getting through the full eight reps was a challenge.

Even though this routine primarily targeted the rectus abdominis muscles on the front of my stomach, it also strengthened other mid-body core muscles along with my arms and legs. Some of the exercises also tested my hip mobility, requiring me to move with control through big ranges of motion.

I was impressed with how hard I had to work during this five-minute routine. It might not be an alternative to 45 minutes of lifting weights but it was a good way to move my body in a short space of time. If I did this routine regularly—at least a few times a week—I think it could improve my core strength, control and mobility.

Anyone who is short on time would gain a lot from this workout. My only caveat is that it might be challenging for beginners, especially the movements that require you to balance on one leg. I’d suggest learning how to plank and how to dead bug before doing abs-focused routines like this one.