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#mindbodymat: Day 1…Pilates Abs
Happy Monday, Beauties!
The day is finally here.
We’re kicking of #mindbodymat with at Pilates ab workout and I couldn’t be more excited.
If you’ve been on the fence about joining I encourage you to just SIGN UP! There’s nothing to lose. It’s totally free and it just might motivate you to make those changes you’ve been wanting to make.
Let’s get started…
I encourage you all to truly embrace the next 21 days. Make yourself a priority. With all that you do, you deserve to spend a little time each day caring for your body and mind.
In order to care for others well, you must first care for yourself.
I’ve kept the daily self-care challenges short and simple so that you can fit them in even if your schedule is packed to the brim.
As I mentioned on Friday, my hope is that this will be life-giving for you, not another nagging task to add to your To Do list.
Today’s self-care challenge is to set 3 goals for the next 3 weeks.
If you upgraded, you already received a super-helpful goal setting guide to walk you through this process. If you haven’t upgraded, I still encourage you set a few goals.
Pour yourself a cup of tea/coffee/wine, find a quiet spot and set 3 specific goals that you would like to accomplish during this challenge.
Make them personal. Make them specific. And most importantly, make them attainable.
TODAY’S CHECK-IN: Once you’ve completed today’s challenge, snap a photo and share it with me on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I want to know you’re out there doing this with me!
Be sure to browse the #mindbodymat hashtag and cheer your fellow MBM sisters on as well!
And now, on to your workout…
Today is all about the abs. You know I love to work the core. All you’ll need is your mat and some space to move around. And maybe a sense of humor as my on-camera quirks start to come out. 🙂
Enjoy!
xo,
PS – the option to upgrade and receive extra, 20-minute, full body workouts will be available through this Friday. Click here to read more.
PPS – Announcing a BIG giveaway tomorrow! Every post mentioning me and using the hashtag #mindbodymat counts as an entry starting today!
Robin Long
Robin Long, founder and CEO of Lindywell, certified Pilates instructor, Nutrition Therapy Practitioner, and author of 'Well to the Core,' blends 15 years of expertise with a lifelong commitment to holistic health.
Learn more about Robin Long
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55 thoughts on “#mindbodymat: Day 1…Pilates Abs”
Thank you for another amazing challenge, Robin. So glad to be back at it and this looks like it will be a great series!
So glad to have you back! Hope you enjoy it. 🙂
I was so excited to start this new challenge. I love your videos, we have to work our butts off but they are so much fun.
Thank you for taking your time to create these programs:D
I like to keep you challenged! Glad you’re enjoying it so far. 🙂
Yay, the day has finally arrived!!!!!!! Worked on my homework last night and really enjoyed taking the time to really think about myself 🙂 Here’s to a great 21 days!!!!!
Good for you Debbie! Hopefully taking time for yourself will become more of a habit in the coming weeks. xo
Woohoo!!! I’m so excited it is here!
Me too Megan! I hope you enjoyed Day #1!
Yesterday I thought “oh good, we’re starting off with something easy – the abs.” Um…no. That was not easy. But it was great! Thanks Robin!
Haha….I just jumped right in didn’t I? I have to give you something to work for. 🙂 xo
Thank you Robin! This was a great start to a Monday morning even with my two littles were crawling all around me!! I teach yoga, but love the results pilates shows for core strength. Since having my 2nd in February, I am trying to be intentional about getting back my core strength. This is perfect as I knit my abs back together!
Gotta love the extra challenge of the littles on top of you! Yoga and Pilates can be such a great complement to one another. I’m thrilled that you’re joining! xo
This is my very first challenge. I normally Crossfit so I’m literally using this to “balance” out my life. Thanks so much for providing this free program to get me started!
Perfect. I’m so glad you’re doing something to balance your routine out Bobbie. It’s really important! The Pilates will help keep injuries at bay. xo
Hi Robin, I’m a new reader having found you through Instagram. I recently took up a personal mission for overall life improvement, one facet of which is of course physical health. Thanks for offering this challenge… I’ve been looking for a simple routine with no equipment required since I have a small space and limited funds. The timing is perfect for me too–no excuses! I just completed today’s workout. It’s my first time EVER doing pilates, and omg… I couldn’t hold for very long at a few spots, but did my best. It really burned! Haha, but I guess that’s how you know it’s working. Looking forward to the next three weeks! Thank you again 🙂
I’m so glad the timing is perfect for you! This workout was meant to be challenging so give yourself time to build strength. It will come, just stay consistent. 🙂 xo
Honestly, That was a little scary for me. I forgot what it felt like to challenge my core. The tips with the towel and the modifications was very helpful to me. I hope that by the end of the 28 days I won’t need the modifications.
oops…I mean 21 days
It’s a challenging one isn’t it? Don’t worry, I intended it to be that way. Hang in there. Use modifications, give yourself time, and be patient. The strength will come with consistency and intention. xo
Really excited to be involved in this challenge. I have a hard time sticking to health commitments more than 1.5 weeks long, so I want to grow personally and complete this. Thank you so much.
Hi Jennifer! So glad you’re committing to this with me. Be sure to post here and participate as much as possible – it will help keep you motivated. You can do it! xo
Thank you again Robin for making an amazing challenge for all of us! I’ve had problems following through to the very end because I never joined the challenges on time. I am committing to following this all the way through! See you tomorrow!
Thanks Robin. I really missed your workouts. Thanks so much for doing another challenge. It is great to be back with you!
Loved the workout!!
Hi! I am new to this community and found u by way of Athleta. I love challenges like this and today’s workout was the perfect amount of challenging to keep me curious about tomorrow! I have an 18 month old and have been struggling terribly to lose the baby weight since my day job is sitting for hours a day. If u have any baby weight loss tips combined with this challenge it would be so much appreciated. Thank u for these workouts and for offering them for free. Wonderful community u have here!
I’m so happy to have stumbled upon your website and this challenge. I am facing quite a bit of uncertainty and change for the near future and so this challenge is exactly what my mind and spirit need. I am also ready for some accountability in my cross training and strengthening/core training, to balance out my running and keep me healthy and injury free! Loved today’s workout and self-care challenge. Your video was very easy and fun to follow!
Thanks,
Lauren
Thank you for another challenge! I like that this one includes a mind/body component, it will help me unwind after a long day at work!
Hurts so good! Great workout—great way to end my day!
Thank you for this challenge Robin! Wow- this is the perfect amount of time to keep me accountable. I really enjoyed today’s workout and found some muscles that have been hiding!
Joined you tonight Robin for the first video. Thank you! Just what I needed on a rainy Monday!
That was fun! Thanks for that! Going to be awesome developing some strength and core stability in this stuff! Thanks for letting me participate! 🙂
Done! I have zero core strength and soooo cannot do the Planks! :(. Hope I can do them by October.
Wow I’m amaze how much you made me sweat in only 10 min. Thank you so much!
Yeah Robin! Day 1 completed! It’s been awhile since I’ve done pilates. (Note to self: turn ceiling fan on high before starting workout.)
Thanks, I Really like these challenge, it works for me and my schedule. I just finished the pilates summer series, love these new challenge. #mindbodymat
Loved this workout! It’s my first series and I am already excited to complete tomorrows! Thank you for this! Instagram: @cailinmarieb
I’m really out of shape and not very active so today was tough but I did it. I love that the workouts are only 10 minutes because I have no reason to quit. Just give it all I have. I feel great! I’m just having a moment of reflection now and I actually feel like my core is engaged. Looking forward to tomorrow. 🙂
Thanks for a great kickstart as I get back on the wagon of taking care of myself. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s installment!
Great workout to start us off, Robin! Looking forward to the commitment. Thanks for everything you do to keep us feeling good and getting stronger inside and out! xoxo
Robin thanks for a great start, roll ups are my challenge!!
Thanks for a great workout. I definitely need to work on my core. I do have a question though…whenever i work my core no matter the exercise my lower back burns like crazy. Is it just that my back is weak and will take time to get past that or am I doing something wrong?
Hi Ashley, I wouldn’t say that burning in the lower back is normal. So I would avoid any exercises that cause pain. Unfortunately since I am not with you in person I am not able to offer individualized advice. But as a general rule: if it hurts, don’t do it. Modify it so that you can do it safely. Take baby steps and don’t rush things. 🙂
That was great!! Only one problem, the exercise that we did where we had to roll up to sitting position…. I couldn’t do it, I mean I could only get my chest off the ground even with my legs bent, unless of course I used some serious momentum!! Was I the only one that couldn’t do it? Is it ok if I just lifted my chest up during that exercise???? My abs are non-existent right now…..
Definitely not the only one! The roll ups can be very hard in the beginning. Follow my modifications for the roll up in the video. Just go part way until you build strength and try folding a towel behind your low back to assist you as well. You’re doing great. Just go day by day and modify as much as you need! You will get stronger. 🙂
Thanks so much for a great workout in a short amount of time!
My pleasure!
Loved your mermaid / side bend prep!
I’m gonna use that when i’m teaching tomorrow 🙂
Thanks for that!
Oh good! Hope your clients enjoy it too! 🙂
Yeah! I’m back for this new 21 day challenge (ok, running a day behind LOL!). What counts is doing it!! Love this first one and this “new” plank! Felt it on the abs – whew! Thanks Robin!
Exactly! Great job. 🙂
Thank you Robin! I can feel my abs, back, & shoulders…yay, I have muscles!!
Woo hoo! 🙂
Thanks, Robin, for this program! Today’s core workout was a good reminder to me of how I REALLY need to remember to work my core. When I stray from core workouts, I notice my lower back starts bothering me.
This is just the motivation I need – Thank you!
Wonderful workout Robin!
Question: When I do my roll-ups, I end up inching backwards on my mat – possibly something not happening right with my sitz bones?
Thanks again
Hi Jen! I don’t think that’s much of a problem. That can happen and you may be doing them just fine. It may get better as you continue to get more movement and flexibility in your lumbar spine as well. Just keep practicing! 🙂