This Is The 5-Exercise Abs Workout Jennifer Aniston, 56, Actually Does At Home

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After years as a self-professed Cardio Queen, actor Jennifer Aniston has relinquished the title to focus, instead, on an exercise regimen that prioritizes strength and longevity. The Morning Show star is doing so with the help of Pvolve, a low-impact modality that trains functional movements.

“You can get as efficient, if not better, of a workout by doing a 30-minute class,” the 56-year-old says of swapping out intense sweat sessions for Pvolve. Jennifer trains with Dani Coleman, Pvolve’s director of training, three to five times a week—and has the abs to prove it. But the core strength payoffs are so much more than what you can see in the mirror, says Coleman.

“The core is the foundation to your body and every movement to transfer power from the lower to the upper half,” Coleman says. “A strong core is crucial not only for performance but everyday life.”

And given Pvolve’s emphasis on functional movement, working the core doesn’t mean millions of crunches, but rather holistic, often full-body, exercises that light up the center and beyond. (The brand also just launched their New Year’s Challenge if you crave even more unique sculpting exercises.)

Ahead, five of Dani’s absolute favorite core exercises that she and Jennifer do on the regular—plus video tutorials of each move so you can nail your form. String these moves together as a focused core circuit, performing each exercise back-to-back with little to no rest (More advanced? Feel free to repeat the full sequence two to three times.) Or, weave one or two of the exercises into your existing strength routine as a core warmup or finisher.

Dead Bug

Coleman considers the dead bug a “foundational” core exercise and likes it not only for the way it activates the deep core muscles—improving strength and stability—but also for how it helps “support daily tasks like lifting heavy or running,” she says. (It’s also one of Jennifer’s faves!)

How to:

Lie supine (on your back, face upward) with legs lifted into tabletop position at 90-degree angles and arms stretched toward the sky.
Lengthen right arm and right leg away from one another on an inhale, then pull them back to center on an exhale. That’s 1 rep.
Repeat on the left side. Do 3 sets of 12 reps on each side.

Variations: There are plenty of ways to mix up this exercise, says Coleman, including stretching opposite limbs (e.g., right arm and left leg) for contralateral work, or adding in a resistance band or weight. When adding weight, Coleman recommends starting light-ish, with a 10-lb dumbbell held with both hands.

Farmer’s Carry

“This is one of our favorites at Pvolve when we’re talking about a movement pattern you do daily,” Coleman says of this full-body core exercise. “There’s not a day where most of us don’t pick something up or carry something.” (Seriously, just imagine your next Trader Joe’s grocery run as you perform this exercise!)

How to:

Stand tall with core engaged, abs knitted in, and one heavy dumbbell in each hand. (Coleman recommends 10- or 15-lb dumbbells to start.)
Walk forward to the end of your mat or space, then turn around and walk back.
Start with 30 seconds of walking and then advance, in either time or weight, from there.

Single-Leg Deadlift

While most people probably think of the deadlift solely as a leg exercise, Coleman programs this move to challenge core stability and train anti-rotation, which is when you use your core strength to resist twisting to keep your spine stable and your body aligned while an external force tries to pull you off center.

How to:

Stand with a weight (10 or 15 lbs) in the right hand.
With a flat back, hinge from the waist, sending the chest parallel to the floor and the right leg toward the ceiling.
Stand back up, drawing the right leg underneath you. That’s 1 rep.
Do 3 sets of 10 reps on each side.

Modify it: If balance is an issue to start, hold on to a chair or a wall for extra stability. You can also keep both feet connected to the floor—and still feel the burn—by assuming a staggered stance (with the same leg as the arm holding the weight) shifted slightly back. This positioning forces the front leg to do the bulk of the work without having to lift the back leg off the floor.

Wood Chop

“We want to train your core 360 [degrees]—all the components of it—not just your surface layer,” Coleman says of this rotational exercise that also emphasizes power.

How to:

Stand with feet slightly wider than hip-width apart.
If using a weight (Coleman recommends learning the movement pattern of a wood chop before adding resistance) hold a dumbbell (around 12 lbs) over the left shoulder with arms bent at 90 degrees.
Step the right foot out to the right side and twist the torso to bring the weight towards the right ankle, extending the arms in a chopping motion.
Step the right foot back in and lift the arms back to their starting position. That’s 1 rep.
Do 3 sets of 12 reps on each side.

Plank

It’s an oldie but goodie for a reason, says Coleman. “When you think about falling and picking yourself up, I think a plank is imperative,” she says of training for longevity. She also likes planks for strengthening the mind-body connection. “I think that’s something we don’t celebrate enough in exercise is the ability to find some strength in stillness and fight that voice that constantly says, ‘Please stop.'”

How to:

Start on hands and knees, with shoulders directly over wrists.
Step one foot back, lengthening the leg; then the other.
Hold this long line of the body for 30 seconds to start, progressing to a minute (or more!) as your training continues.

Variations: Coleman will often integrate the Pvolve sliders (one under each foot) to turn up the volume, incorporating pikes, mountain climbers, and abduction/adduction work by gliding the legs out and in. “Gliders are so fun—they’re my favorite,” Coleman says, adding: “I usually get looks from my clients when I use them.”