Develop solid core strength with this four-move standing dumbbell workout

We often think that to work on our core we need to do floor exercises, like the plank or crunches, but this isn't actually the case. Not to mention not everyone gets on with these types of exercises. If that’s you, or you’re simply looking to switch up your core routine, then this standing core workout is exactly what you need. All you need is a pair of the best dumbbells and your best workout shoes to help with your stability.

Standing core exercises have a greater range of motion, so they also recruit other muscles in your body, such as your arms and glutes to help maintain your balance. Focusing on your core too (the lower back, hips, pelvis and stomach) rather than just the abs will also help you move better and reduce the likelihood of injuries.

For this workout you’ve got four beginner-friendly exercises and you’re going to do 16 reps of each, on both sides. You’ll do three rounds of the workout in total. Incorporating the dumbbells will challenge your body’s stability and balance even further. Start off with light dumbbells to perfect your form first, then once you’ve mastered this you can move onto some medium-weight ones. Here’s your workout:

• Windmill crunch
• Knee pull twist
• Tick tock crunch
• 1/2 Wood chopper

If you don’t have dumbbells you could always use a pair of the best kettlebells or fill up two large water bottles. For more non-core workouts, checkout this core-transforming exercise or if you fancy something a little lower-impact, give these five core yoga poses a try.