Let’s smash these fast, fun core tabatas! I’ve got three 4-minute blasts to strengthen your core today, all built into this 20 minute class!
When you’re short on time this type explosive cardio workout is perfect to get your heart pumping and your energy flowing. The tabata format is an excellent way to efficiently trigger fat loss, especially the deep visceral fat around our organs that can release inflammatory chemicals and promote insulin resistance.
This workout will hit your front abdominals, obliques, back and deep core muscles to support better posture and alignment – in less than 20 minutes!
When you don’t have a lot of time to train, do what you can when you can and remember my “all or something” motto. A workout doesn’t have to be “long” to be effective and tabatas are by design meant to be short as you want to go all out.
You won’t need much time or any equipment for this super-fun circuit that will target your core from all directions to give you an awesome burn!
Let’s go!
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Tabata Abs Blast
Click to expand and see all workout move descriptions
Equipment: elevated surface
Tabata format: each tabata is a 4:00 block. Moves are completed in circuit style, going at max effort for 0:20, followed by a 0:10 second rest until done.
Tabata 1:
Jump Squat Touchdown Reach
- Begin standing with feet hip distance apart, core braced, and chest upright.
- Send your hips back as you come into a squat, bracing your core and keeping your chest up, keeping your knees tracking in line with your toes as you touch one hand to the mat.
- Powerfully drive through your heels to jump and land lightly with a braced core and evenly distribute your weight along each entire foot while allowing your hips and knees to bend to absorb force as you repeat, switching the hand that touches down.
- Repeat for allotted time.
- MOD: Make this low impact by removing the jump and performing a body squat, driving through the heels to stand and squeezing your glutes at the top.
- You can also use a chair/couch to guide your low impact squat form.
Hop Overs
- Plant your hands on a sturdy elevated surface about shoulder width with your body angled slightly to the right of the elevated surface.
- With a braced core, slightly bend your knees and power through your heels to explode off the balls of your feet, tucking your knees towards your chest as you hop over to land slightly to the left of the elevated surface.
- Be mindful that you are landing lightly with a braced core and evenly distribute your weight along each entire foot while allowing your hips and knees to bend to absorb force. Your knees should be in line with your toes as you set up to jump back to the right.
- Continue jumping from side to side for allotted time.
Tabata 2:
Box Jumps
- Begin by standing facing the box (or any sturdy elevated surface) you are jumping onto.
- With a braced core, slightly bend your knees and power through your heels to explode off the balls of your feet onto the box (use your arms to propel you and land softly on the balls of your feet), squeezing your glutes as you stand upright.
- Jump or step back down and repeat for allotted time.
- MOD 1: Make this low impact by removing the jump and perform step ups with alternating legs, being mindful to drive through the heel as you step onto the box.
- MOD 2: If you don’t have a box to jump onto, perform broad jumps:
- Begin standing at one end of the mat with feet hip distance apart, core braced, and chest upright.
- Drop down a little into a quarter squat, engaging through the glutes to explosively jump to the other side of the mat.
- Turn around and repeat for allotted time.
Alternating Side Knee Side Kick
- Begin by standing with your feet hip width distance apart, core braced, chest upright, and arms bent in a fighting position.
- Using the strength of your core, drive your left knee up to hip height (or lower if needed) then briefly tap your toe back to the mat.
- Lean slightly to the right, feeling stable and strong through the right leg as you powerfully kick your left leg straight out to the right side by first lifting the knee up and then driving through the heel, as if you were kicking a door shut.
- Plant your left foot back down and switch sides.
- Continue alternating sides for the allotted time.
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Tabata 3:
Elevated In and Outs
- Begin by sitting on your elevated surface with your knees bent, core braced, chest upright, and your hands holding on to the elevated surface outside of and behind your hips.
- Lift your feet off of the mat and draw your knees in towards your chest, then extend your legs as you lower your upper body with control.
- Continue alternating between drawing your knees towards your chest and extending your body out long.
- MOD: Keep your legs bent throughout this exercise instead of extending your legs long.
Mountain Climbers
- Begin in a tall plank position with shoulders stacked over your wrists, core braced, neutral gaze (not looking up or down) and a flat back.
- Using your core to drive the movement, alternate running your knees towards your chest for the allotted time.
- MOD 1: Perform this move with your hands placed on an elevated surface.
- MOD 2: Make this low impact by taking the run out of the mountain climber and alternating driving your knees in towards your chest.
Great job Rockstar! Remember you don’t have to do it ALL to be doing great! Check in with me to let me know how you liked that workout and if you have any questions, drop them below!
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