A 4-Move Pilates-Inspired Workout To Strengthen Your Arms & Abs

If you're looking for a simple and effective workout that will strengthen your upper body at home while also showing your abs some love—you've come to the right place.

The following moves from B The Method—the Pilates-based method I founded—are great for targeting both your arms and abs. The best part: All you need is a Pilates ball (or a small pillow folded in half).

All of these are moves I highly recommend to my clients (including mindbodygreen's co-founder and co-CEO Colleen Wachob) as a strategic way to strengthen their bodies.

This move should look like a moving child's pose with your knees off the ground. It activates your inner thighs and pelvic floor, in addition to the abs and arms.

This one is similar to the plank flow with open hips, except your legs are parallel and stay parallel the entire time.

This exercise stretches the entire side of your body in one swift move.

Similar to the moving plank flow with open hips, this move focuses more on rolling through the spine. Articulate through every vertebra to lift into an extension. This stretches the shoulders and abdominals and strengthens your spine.

How to: Start in a high plank position, with your shoulders stacked over your wrists, knees on the ground and spread wide, and a Pilates ball in between your ankles. Press through your arms, pulling your body backward until your shins are on the ground and your seat is over your heels. Return to start, stretching through the shoulders and arms as you press your chest forward. That's one rep. Do 5 reps.