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This 25-minute intermediate workout focuses on 25 minute intermediate core and spine workout. Led by Linda Chambers, it targets core, shoulders, spine with evidence-based exercises designed for women of all fitness levels.

Exercise Breakdown

18 exercises in Workout 8

Warm-up6 exercises
2m 55s
0:10
Warm-up: Side Stretches

Take a big stretch over to one side, and then the other.

spinecore
low
0:36
Warm-up: Plank with Rotation

Taking the same hand as the foot you have in front of you up towards the ceiling.

corespinehipsshoulders
low
1:06
Warm-up: Back Extensions to Child's Pose

Keeping the hips down, gently lowering, and then pushing back into a child's pose.

spinelower backhips
low
1:46
Warm-up: Cat-Cow (Flex and Extend)

Lift the head, lift the tail, drop the belly button.

spinenecklower back
low
2:11
Warm-up: Side Bend Crunches

Take a little look over to the right hip. We side bend, and then over to the left.

corespine
low
2:31
Warm-up: Downward-Facing Dog with Calf Reach

Reaching for the opposite leg with the opposite hand.

hamstringscalvesshoulderscore
low
Strength9 exercises
9m 58s
3:30
Jackknife

Sliding the ribs down towards the hips.

core
high
6:00
Lying Windshield Wipers

Think about gluing the head down, pulling the chin in.

corelower back
medium
8:00
Seated In and Outs

Let's see if we can keep the ankles and the feet glued together.

corehip flexors
high
10:00
Bear Plank Walk

Keep the hips and the shoulders as level as possible.

coreshouldersquads
high
12:00
Hollow Hold / Hollow Rock

Lower back stays down, your shoulders are lifted, and you're gonna scoop out the belly.

core
high
14:00
Side Plank Hip Raise (Right)

Try and get as much range of motion as possible.

coreshoulders
medium
14:31
Side Plank Hold (Right)

If you're down on the knee, get off that ground. Challenge yourself.

coreshoulders
medium
15:30
Side Plank Hip Raise (Left)

Keep the hips stacked on top of each other, not rolling forwards or backwards.

coreshoulders
medium
16:01
Side Plank Hold (Left)

Feel all of those muscles in the underside of the waist burning.

coreshoulders
medium
Cool-down3 exercises
2m 14s
24:10
Cool-down: Spinal Flexion and Extension

Roll the hips around, move the body from side to side.

spinelower back
low
24:41
Cool-down: Hip Flexor Side Bend

Our hip flexors need a stretch, particularly after those moves that we did.

hip flexorscore
low
25:21
Cool-down: Standing Roll Up

Spine by spine, rolling ourselves all the way up to the top.

spinehamstringsshoulders
low

Muscles Targeted

Primary

coreshouldersspine

Secondary

lower backhipshamstrings

Equipment & Modifications

Equipment Needed

  • mat

Don't Have Equipment?

You can substitute with:

thick towelcarpet

Available Modifications

  • Release your knee to the floor
  • You can bend the knees here if you need to
  • Bent-knee option
  • Support the head for a standard crunch
  • Straight leg windshield wiper
  • Single leg variation
  • Hands behind the back for support
  • Arms by your sides
  • Walk forwards and backwards four steps
  • Bend the knees
  • Arms by the side instead of ears
  • Perform from the forearms
  • Stack the feet
  • Lift the top leg
  • Bottom knee down

Coaching Highlights from Linda Chambers

Keeping the hips down, gently lowering, and then pushing back into a child's pose.

Form

Think about tilting the pelvis, pulling it in, and trying to keep those hips as close to the ground as we can.

Safety

If you're down on the knee, get off that ground. Challenge yourself.

Motivation

Linda brings clinical precision to every session. Her background in corrective exercise shows in how she cues alignment and breathing.

Form

Health Benefits

Women who want to build real core and shoulders strength without a gym membership. Particularly relevant if you're navigating unexplained weight gain, dating after 40, or aging appearance. Best for women with 3-6 months of consistent training. Linda Chambers moves at a pace that assumes basic movement literacy.

unexplained weight gain

90% relevant

muscle mass preservation (metabolic rate); insulin sensitivity improvement; cortisol management; body composition over scale weight

dating after 40

90% relevant

Stress reduction and emotional regulation through parasympathetic activation; Improved body awareness, confidence, and self-perception; Enhanced posture and physical presence for increased self-assurance; Increased energy and vitality for social engagement; Development of lean muscle mass for metabolic health and body composition

aging appearance

90% relevant

Increased collagen production and skin elasticity through resistance training; Improved circulation and nutrient delivery to skin cells; Enhanced muscle definition and tone to reduce appearance of sagging; Better posture to create a more youthful and confident appearance; Stress reduction and cortisol management (via Yoga/Pilates) to mitigate cellular aging; Improved lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness

self worth decline

90% relevant

Enhances body awareness and interoception, fostering a more positive self-perception.; Builds physical strength and competence, translating to increased self-efficacy and confidence.; Promotes parasympathetic nervous system activation, reducing stress and improving emotional regulation.; Offers a structured routine and sense of accomplishment, counteracting feelings of helplessness.; Improves posture and physical presence, which can positively impact self-image and how one is perceived.

difficulty losing weight

90% relevant

Increased basal metabolic rate through muscle mass development; Improved insulin sensitivity and glucose regulation; Enhanced hormonal balance (e.g., cortisol management, estrogen metabolism); Reduced visceral fat accumulation; Improved body composition and fat-to-muscle ratio; Stress reduction and improved sleep quality (indirectly supports weight management)

Relevant For

back painbalancecore strengthflexibilityhip painpostureshoulder pain

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Workouts & Topics

About the Trainer

Linda Chambers

Linda Chambers

Muscle Tone Trainer

From: Abs & Glutes