Home workouts are an easy and effective way to begin a fitness journey, especially if your goal is to train more this January. Short, approachable sessions that fit into your living room make it much easier to stay consistent. If you’re looking for a fast yet effective option, this quick core workout is well worth trying. Created by fitness trainer FitByMik, it’s designed to suit all fitness levels.
The entire session takes just 12 minutes to complete and requires no equipment, although using a yoga mat can make things more comfortable if you’re exercising on a hard surface. One standout feature is the dual-instructor setup. FitByMik demonstrates simpler modifications for each exercise, while fellow trainer Sydney shows a more advanced version, making it easy to follow along at your own pace.
Inside FitByMik’s 12-Minute Core Session
The workout includes 12 exercises, each performed for 45 seconds followed by 15 seconds of rest. Together, these movements target the upper and lower abs, engage the obliques, and activate the deep core muscles that play a key role in everyday movement.
If you’re new to core training, this session introduces many foundational exercises you’ll likely encounter again as you progress, such as leg raises and crunch-style movements.
The fast-paced structure, paired with FitByMik’s clear guidance and encouragement, makes the workout feel much shorter than it actually is. Since each move is only completed once, or once per side, there’s a constant sense of momentum as you move from one exercise to the next.
How to Adjust the Workout to Your Ability
One of the biggest strengths of this routine is how easy it is to scale to your fitness level. You can choose between the modified or advanced versions of each exercise. Beginners can also lengthen rest periods, for example by switching to 30 seconds of work and 30 seconds of rest.
For those seeking more intensity, you can increase the challenge by moving faster to complete more repetitions or by adding light resistance, such as a dumbbell, if you have one available.
How Often Should You Do This Core Workout?
Completing this workout one to three times per week can quickly lead to noticeable improvements in core strength, which often carry over into other workouts and daily activities. Even fitting it in once a week can still deliver meaningful benefits.
Consistency is essential for building strength and fitness. If repeating the same routine starts to feel repetitive, you can keep things interesting by rotating it with another short core-focused session that targets the abs from different angles.
Another key factor in long-term progress is progressive overload. Once the exercises begin to feel manageable, increasing the difficulty helps ensure continued improvement.
You can do this by extending workout duration, adding resistance bands or dumbbells, or choosing harder exercise variations. These adjustments not only push your core further but also help keep your training routine engaging and fresh.
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