Forget sit-ups — use this 10-minute standing abs workout to build a strong core
Stay on your feet for this core burner
Here at Tom’s Guide our expert editors are committed to bringing you the best news, reviews and guides to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve!
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Daily (Mon-Sun)
Tom's Guide Daily
Sign up to get the latest updates on all of your favorite content! From cutting-edge tech news and the hottest streaming buzz to unbeatable deals on the best products and in-depth reviews, we’ve got you covered.
Weekly on Thursday
Tom's AI Guide
Be AI savvy with your weekly newsletter summing up all the biggest AI news you need to know. Plus, analysis from our AI editor and tips on how to use the latest AI tools!
Weekly on Friday
Tom's iGuide
Unlock the vast world of Apple news straight to your inbox. With coverage on everything from exciting product launches to essential software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.
Weekly on Monday
Tom's Streaming Guide
Our weekly newsletter is expertly crafted to immerse you in the world of streaming. Stay updated on the latest releases and our top recommendations across your favorite streaming platforms.
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
While classic core exercises like sit-ups and crunches are certainly an effective way to train your abs, they are not the only way. If you prefer to stay standing for your workouts, then this 10-minute session is well worth trying.
It’s been put together by fitness trainer Maddie Lymburner, who goes by MadFit on YouTube, and you don’t need any equipment to get it done, though standing on one of the best yoga mats will grant you a better grip during the workout.
The whole session takes just 10 minutes and is suitable for all fitness levels. You stay standing throughout and don’t repeat any exercises, aside from those you do on each side of the body.
Watch MadFit’s 10-minute standing abs workout
There are 10 moves in the workout and you do each exercise for 45 seconds and rest for 15 seconds, though you can extend the breaks if you need to.
Lymburner does the workout with you and provides form tips and motivation throughout, so make sure you can see and hear her while you train.
To target a variety of muscles in the core while standing, you’ll be doing moves where you bend, twist and raise your legs and knees.
This way, you replicate some of the movements you do with floor-based abs moves, like crunches and sit-ups, so you can work the upper and lower abs, plus your obliques and deep core stabilizing muscles.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
The key to success with any core workout is to engage the right muscles, which might mean you need to slow down and really focus on using your abs and obliques to drive the movements.
Rather than rushing through as many reps as possible during each set, keep the relevant core muscles engaged throughout the 45 seconds while moving slowly.
This will maximize the time under tension for your core muscles and ensure an effective workout in just 10 minutes.
With the moves on each side, it’s worth trying to notice if you find it easier on one side or the other. Identifying strength imbalances in your body means you can work to even them out with future workouts.
Standing abs workouts like this are a great low-impact option for training your core, and you can use them as standalone sessions or add them onto the end of a longer session, like this 15-minute full-body workout, to add extra focus on your core.
If you have some weights to hand, you can progress your standing abs workouts by using these. If you’re unsure what to do, try this 12-minute standing dumbbell workout to fire up your abs.
More from Tom's Guide
- I tried this 10-minute push-up challenge — here’s what happened
- Try these 8 best 30-minute workouts to build muscle and strength and burn calories
- I tried this 20-minute bodyweight abs workout with 14 million views — here’s what happened

Nick Harris-Fry is an experienced health and fitness journalist, writing professionally since 2012. He spent nine years working on the Coach magazine and website before moving to the fitness team at Tom’s Guide in 2024. Nick is a keen runner and also the founder of YouTube channel The Run Testers, which specialises in reviewing running shoes, watches, headphones and other gear.
Nick ran his first marathon in 2016 and became obsessed with the sport. He now has PBs of 2hr 25min for the marathon and 15min 30sec for 5K. Nick is also a qualified Run Leader in the UK.
Nick is an established expert in the fitness area and along with writing for many publications, including Live Science, Expert Reviews, Wareable, Coach and Get Sweat Go, he has been quoted on The Guardian and The Independent.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.










