Swap planks for Pilates moves
Pilates instructors are pushing five new core exercises to replace traditional planks for better stability and injury prevention — a trend highlighted in Fit&Well's recent coverage. The recommendation is part of a broader 2026 shift toward smarter, safer core work in boutique and at‑home practice (fitandwell.com).
Fit&Well ran a feature by Sam Rider on Oct. 30, 2025 that presented a 15‑minute, dumbbell‑based five‑move core routine created by certified trainer Jess Pritchard. (fitandwell.com) Pritchard told Fit&Well she developed the routine after a nagging lower‑back problem following her London Marathon and identified an imbalance between her left glute, lower back and core; she credits the program with reducing pain and restoring pelvic balance. (fitandwell.com) In the feature Pritchard argued that conventional planks are static and said her combinations focus on training dynamic control and resisting unwanted motion during tasks such as running, lifting and rising from sitting. (fitandwell.com) Brittani Johnson, a certified Pilates instructor affiliated with BetterMe, outlined five named replacements — Wall tap, Suitcase crunch, Oblique crunch, Corkscrew and Three‑point leg drop — and specified using a mat, Pilates ball, loop band and a wall for the sequence. (yahoo.com) Johnson recommended three sets of eight‑to‑10 reps per exercise, said the routine could be performed as a circuit or straight sets, and advised that full prescribed volume need not be done more than twice weekly while lower‑volume versions can be done daily. (yahoo.com) Consumer sites have repeatedly published short, five‑move Pilates core routines from mid‑2025 into 2026 — for example T3 ran a five‑move, 15‑minute Pilates core piece on July 12, 2025, followed by Fit&Well (Oct. 30, 2025) and syndicated coverage in March 2026. ( )
