Work Your Abs in Just 6 Minutes With This Workout From Celebrity Trainer Kira Stokes

You'll be surprised how much you can do in so little time.
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Katie Thompson

Having strong abs muscles will help improve your performance in workouts and your ability to move throughout daily life, says Stokes. "Your abs support you in those heavier lifting movements you do: when you deadlift, squat, even when you're doing a bent-over row. If you don't have strong abs, you're probably going to feel it in your lower back," Stokes says. She also adds that if you're focusing on your abs, you also need to make sure you're doing an equal amount of work on the back of your body—your lower back and butt—to maintain symmetry and avoid any muscle imbalances that could impact your movement patterns and increase your risk of injury.

Working your abs in this "time under tension" fashion is a great way to really challenge the muscles in a short amount of time. All you really need, Stokes says, is a few minutes of nonstop work. Below, Stokes shares an abs circuit that takes only four to six minutes to do.

The Workout

What you'll need: Stokes uses a hand towel in the circuit below. You can also use a small exercise ball, or if you don't have anything on hand, you can do this without anything in your hands.

Moves:
  • V-up
  • Figure 8 Crunch
  • Hollow Hold to Knee Tuck
  • Butterfly Sit-up
  • Mountain Climber
  • Half Burpee Hop
Directions:
  • Do each exercise for 20 seconds.
  • Minimize rest in between each move.
  • Repeat the entire circuit two to three times.

Stokes encourages you to try your best not to release the contraction in your abs, and move quickly from one exercise to the next to increase the time your abs are under tension. (Of course, if you need a break, take one. A burning sensation in the muscles you're working is a good thing, but if you feel strain or pain in your lower back, stop and take the time to refocus your form.)

As you get more comfortable with the exercises and start to feel stronger, slowly increase the time to 30 seconds for each move.

And a few quick notes on form: Make sure your lower back is anchored down on the floor whenever you're lying on your back, Stoke says. When possible, squeeze your butt cheeks to keep them engaged—this is a good trick to keep your lower back on the ground, and will help you avoid straining it.

Here's how to do each move: