21 Best Core Workouts at Home

Sometimes, all we have time for is a home workout. In those moments when we need motivation, we can turn to the ready-to-go home workout exercises to get a routine done.

In this guide, we take a look at some core workouts at home to amp up your core strength. These exercises can make your everyday activities a breeze thanks to their knack for supporting spine movement. Here are the 21 best core workouts you can do from home, including: 

• Planks

• Push-ups

• Side planks

• Crunches

• Bicycle crunches

• Metronomes

• Glute bridges

• Jackknife sit-ups

• Flutter kicks

• Plank jacks

• V-ups

• Sit-ups

• Scissor kicks

• Ankle touches

• Plank leg lifts

• Plank taps

• Windshield wipers

• Russian twists

• Kegel exercises

• Reverse crunches

• Supermans

Let’s get started!

1. Planks 

1. Start face down on the floor with your forearms on the ground and your palms down. Keep your legs straight and toes resting on the ground. Ensure a straight spine parallel to the ground.

2. Engage your core by pulling your belly button toward your spine.

3. Maintain the position as long as possible.

2. Push-ups

1. Start in a high plank position, palms on the floor, arms shoulder-width apart and fully extended. 

2. Bend both your elbows and lower yourself to the floor. 

3. Push up on the palms of the hands, straightening back up to a high plank position. 

4. Repeat. 

3. Side planks

1. Lie on your left side, with your elbow under the shoulder at a 90-degree angle, keeping the forearm flat on the floor.

2. Stack your right leg on the left, forming a straight line from head to toes.

3. Engage core and keep your head forward.

4. Hold for as long as possible.

5. Switch sides.

4. Crunches

1. Lie on your back, knees bent and feet flat on the ground, hip-width apart.

2. With your head looking up, place your hands behind your head.

3. Tighten your abs, lift shoulder blades off the ground, and curl toward your knees.

4. Hold, squeeze the abs, and repeat.

5. Bicycle crunches

1. Lie face up, hands behind your head, elbows pointing out.

2. Lift your legs off the floor with knees bent at 90 degrees.

3. Engage your core.

4. Crunch up, bringing your right elbow to the left knee, straightening your right leg.

5. Twist your torso, bringing your left elbow to the right knee, straightening the left leg.

6. Repeat in a bicycle-pedaling motion.

6. Metronomes

1. Lie on your back, knees bent and raised, and arms extended to the sides.

2. Rotate your legs to the right, bringing the knees close to the floor without touching it.

3. Return to the center.

4. Move your knees to the left side.

Related blog: How to Motivate Yourself to Work Out at Home

7. Glute bridges

1. Lie on your back with legs bent at 90 degrees and feet flat on the floor.

2. Lift your hips and back off the floor, forming a straight line from shoulders to knees.

3. Hold for five to 10 seconds.

8. Jackknife sit-ups

1. Lie on your back and fully extend your arms and legs.

2. Lift your legs, arms, and torso simultaneously off the floor.

3. Bring your hands to touch your feet over your body.

4. Slowly lower down and repeat.

9. Flutter kicks

1. Lie on your back, extend both feet.

2. Lift both legs three inches off the ground.

3. Lift your right leg six inches then lower to three inches.

4. Do the same for the left leg.

5. Flutter your legs back and forth above the ground, ensuring your lower back stays on the ground

10. Plank jacks

1. Start with a standard plank.

2. Jump your feet outwards about two feet apart.

3. Jump them back together.

4. Repeat, ensuring the lower back stays flat.

11. V-ups

1. Lie flat on the ground, fully extended.

2. Lift your legs and arms simultaneously, meeting above the torso.

3. Slowly lower your legs, arms, and torso back to the starting position.

4. Repeat.

12. Sit-ups

1. Lie on your back, feet on the ground, knees bent.

2. Place your hands behind the head.

3. Lift your torso to a seated position with the chest and shoulders above your hips.

4. Slowly lower down and repeat.

13. Scissor kicks

1. Lie flat on the ground, both feet fully extended.

2. Lift both legs three inches off the ground.

3. Lift your right leg above your body, then lower.

4. As your right leg nears the ground, lift the left leg.

5. Repeat back and forth for time or reps.

14. Ankle touches

1. Lie flat on your back, knees bent, arms straight by your side.

2. Lift your head and upper back, keeping a neutral spine.

3. Reach your left heel with the right hand, engaging the oblique muscles.

4. Return to the starting position and repeat on the right side.

15. Plank leg lifts

1. Start face-down, propped on your forearms with the knees and feet together.

2. Lift your torso, legs, and hips in a straight line from head to heels.

3. Hold for 10 seconds.

4. Raise your left leg a few inches.

5. Lower and repeat with the right leg.

Related Blog: Leg Workouts at Home: 9 Leg Exercises for Strength and Endurance 

16. Plank taps

1. Begin in a high plank with palms flat, hands shoulder-width apart, and core engaged.

2. Tap your left hand to the right shoulder, keeping the hips stable.

3. Repeat with your right hand to the left shoulder.

4. Continue alternating for one minute.

17. Windshield wipers

1. Lie on your back, feet extended, arms out in a “T” shape.

2. Lift your legs above the hips.

3. Let your feet fall to one side without lifting the shoulders or rotating your torso.

4. Lift your legs to the middle, then repeat on the other side.

18. Russian twists

1. Sit upright on the ground with knees bent in front, holding a weight

2. Place the weight on one side, lift to the other, going back and forth.

3. Do these moves with your feet lifted or on the ground (ground is easier).

4. Recline your torso for a more challenging version.

19. Kegel exercises

1. Lie flat, knees bent, and feet flat.

2. Exhale, pulling your belly button to the spine.

3. Contract for a second and release the pelvic floor muscles.

4. Maintain steady breath.

5. Perform 10 reps per set, complete three sets, resting for 10 seconds between sets.

20. Reverse crunches

1. Lie on your back, feet flat, knees bent.

2. Lift both feet three inches off the ground.

3. Bring your knees to the body, lifting the hips off the ground.

4. Lower your legs to the starting position and repeat.

21. Supermans

1. Lie face-down with arms and legs extended.

2. Raise your head, left arm, and right leg about six inches off the floor.

3. Hold for a count of three, then lower back to the start.

4. Repeat with the right arm and left leg.

Working out at home with Hydrow

Core workouts at home are an important inclusion in an overall fitness plan. By building on core strength, we can help build a solid foundation of strength for our other fitness goals, helping us become stronger and healthier.

If you’re looking to incorporate more core workouts into your at-home exercise routine, be sure to check out Hydrow. Our extensive library of workouts are led by world-class motivational Athletes and are filmed in stunning locations around the world. Whether you want to try out an indoor rowing machine workout or on-the-mat workouts such as yoga, Pilates, or circuit training, you’ll find it with Hydrow.