This 30-minute, no-equipment Pilates routine builds strength and protects your joints

You don't need to lift weights to strengthen your body—Pilates is a great way to improve your flexibility, develop your core muscles and increase your balance using just your bodyweight. 

So, we recommend unrolling a yoga mat and giving it a go with this 30-minute routine from personal trainer Roxanne Russell. It helps build strength all over your body, boosts your joint health, and improves your posture. 

If you've not tried Pilates before, it's similar to yoga, but instead of holding static poses, you keep your body moving to engage your core muscle—the area of muscle around your stomach responsible for balance, stability, circulation, and performance.

So, you'll get some of the benefits of yoga while doing plenty of core strengthening exercises that'll help with everyday activities like standing, sitting, carrying groceries, and lifting objects. 

This is a guided routine, so you can follow Russell's video below to perform the moves alongside her. Try to copy each of her movements to nail your form, and listen out for her handy technique tips which will help you get the most out of this session. 

Watch Workout With Roxanne's 30-minute Pilates routine

Pilates routines like this one use simple, controlled, and repeated movement patterns designed to increase the strength and endurance of your muscles, as well as improving your flexibility, posture, and balance. 

It provides a comprehensive core workout for beginners and experienced exercisers too, with many of the exercises requiring impressive levels of midsection strength and control. 

Many people like to use Pilates as a cross-training workout. If you're a regular runner or enjoy challenging training styles like high-intensity resistance training (HIRT), Pilates can be a fun way to mix things up and take your training at a slower pace. 

It also complements other exercises, helping you build the joint strength and core stability you need for strength training, hiking, and yoga. If you want to get stuck into a program, our Pilates plan for beginners is a great place to start. 

Although working out to build strength is a worthy goal, exercising for happiness is just as valuable. You can do this or any other routine because it feels good and that's one of the best self care ideas you can do to protect your wellbeing without breaking the bank.