Olympic surfer Caroline Marks shares why she loves Pilates for core strength.

Plus, check out some great Pilates workouts to try at home.

Core strength helpsimprove your balance and posture, and prevents injuries in the gym and in daily life.

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Turns out, Markss go-to core workout is one that truly hurts-so-good.

I do tons of Pilates, which takes a lot of core [strength], Marks says.

With surfing, youre constantly always turning with your core so making sure thats really strong is very important.

Two young women practicing ballet with a teacher in the dance hall.

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Try laughing the day after a Pilates class.

Its no wonder that Pilates is her core exercise of choice.

Most moves engage the core muscles, becausePilates focuses on stability for better mobility.

Woman doing hip exercises

(And as mentioned earlier, your core is crucial for most day-to-day movement.)

And the Pilates breathing that Marks mentions?

It further engages your ab musclesmaking every moment of the workout great for building core strength.

Cropped image of woman doing lunge yoga pose

Plus, you dont need a Reformer or other fancy machines to make it reap the benefits of Pilates.

There are lots of mat exercises that it’s possible for you to do at home.

(And dont miss thisweek-long Pilates workout planfor a more detailed regimen.)

Woman in leggings and bra doing Lunge with Arm Extended Up pose hip opener stretch during yoga session in morning at home.

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If youre a total Pilates newbie: 20 minute Pilates for beginners

Never tried Pilates before?

Instructor Chloe de Winter has got you covered with this great introductory mat workout.

Youll feel the burn as you learn the ins and outs of Pilates, including some great core-strengthening moves.

Woman doing arm exercise without weights while sitting on mat at home.

Youll need resistance bands, two sliders, and a mat.

(Optional: Towel to soak up your sweat.)

Here, Pilates instructor Brian Spencer provides a quick, 10-minute standing core workout that is surprisingly challenging.

A woman in sports clothes does yoga or gymnastics at home. Daylight. She smiles

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