{"id":760571,"date":"2026-07-13T15:26:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/760571\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T15:26:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:26:13","slug":"how-michelle-monaghan-built-her-core-at-50-her-no-ab-workout-method-and-why-it-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/760571\/","title":{"rendered":"How Michelle Monaghan built her core at 50 \u2013\u00a0her no-ab workout method and why it works"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whilst we all know genetics contribute to how strong your abs are, Michelle Monaghan didn\u2019t just sit back and take what she was given. As she prepared for her role in The White Lotus, the 50-year-old (then 48), took stock of her fitness and began training with Jacqui Kingswell<\/a>, founder of The Pilates Class<\/a>. But her impressive core wasn\u2019t built around endless crunches<\/a> or ab workouts<\/a> \u2013 in fact, the pair never trained abs in isolation.<\/p>\n

Jacqui says they only ever used full-body workouts, explaining that The Pilates<\/a> Class method involves engaging and training your core consistently, with every move. <\/p>\n

\u2018She\u2019s always really holding those [core] muscles, and if she\u2019s moving in a twisting direction, she\u2019s squeezing her abs, and then still getting an ab workout throughout the entire session,\u2019 Jacqui told Today<\/a>. \u2018So it really is, like, all core. But then, of course, we work on her posture, so then when she\u2019s on set, she looks really strong and open and fit. And we did a lot of toned arm sequences<\/a>, booty work, strong glutes<\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\n

There\u2019s one crucial cue to repeat in your mind throughout every session: \u2018Draw your belly button back towards your spine, and then your ribs down to your hips.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Once you get those full cues locked in, it changes your life,\u2019 Jacqui says. The goal is to activate every layer in your abdominals: your rectus abdominis (the six-pack), your transverse abdominis (the deepest layer and the most important for posture and all-round core strength), and your obliques. <\/p>\n

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Listening to cues has truly been transformative for Michelle and her core strength, Jacqui says: \u2018She\u2019s so disciplined, and her attention to detail\u2026 she just takes on every cue and every detail that I throw at her. And she\u2019s very focused, she\u2019s very present. She\u2019s such a hard worker, and she loves Pilates.\u2019 And activating her core isn\u2019t just for when she\u2019s on the mat: Jacqui would encourage Michelle to keep the same cue (belly button back to spine, ribs down to hips) in mind when she\u2019s boiling water for tea, running through her lines, cooking dinner, or playing with her kids. <\/p>\n

\"michelle<\/p>\n

@michellemonaghan\/\/Instagram<\/p>\n

Beyond listening to cues and aiming to activate your core pretty much 24\/7, consistency has also been fundamental to Michelle\u2019s results \u2013 and it\u2019s something Jacqui urges for all her clients. \u2018Find a workout you love, because consistency is key, and that\u2019s what Michelle does,\u2019 Jacqui explains. \u2018She\u2019s really consistent with her workouts. She\u2019s not just jumping on and like training for six weeks and then not working out at all, like she genuinely loves to feel good, to work out. And so she\u2019s consistently finding a routine that makes her feel good.\u2019<\/p>\n

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HBO<\/p>\n

Below, find four of Jacqui\u2019s go-to exercises<\/a> designed to target every portion of your core \u2013 try them on their own, then add them into your next full-body workout.<\/p>\n

Technique tip: Perform every move slowly and with as much control as possible. Think about engaging your core before you move and resist the urge to use momentum \u2013 each rep should feel deliberate, and this will help keep your abs engaged throughout.<\/p>\n

4 core exercises from Michelle Monaghan’s Pilates coachStraight leg reach and leg lower\"ImageBicycles \"ImageDouble leg lower\"ImageCrossbody mountain climbers\"Image\"Headshot<\/p>\n

As Women\u2019s Health UK\u2019s fitness director and a qualified Pilates and yoga instructor, Bridie Wilkins has been passionately reporting on exercise, health and nutrition since the start of her decade-long career in journalism.<\/p>\n

After earning a first-class degree in journalism and NCTJ accreditation, she secured her first role at Look Magazine, where she launched the magazine\u2019s health and fitness column, Look Fit, before going on to become Health and Fitness writer at HELLO!<\/p>\n

Since, she has written for Stylist, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Elle, The Metro, Runner\u2019s World and Red. Today, she oversees all fitness content across Women’s Health online and in <\/a>print, spearheading leading cross-platform franchises, such as \u2018Fit At Any Age\u2019, which showcases the women proving that age is no barrier to exercise.<\/p>\n

She has also represented the brand on BBC Radio London, plus various podcasts and Substacks \u2013 all with the aim to encourage more women to exercise and show them how. Outside of work, find her trying the latest Pilates studio, testing her VO2 max for fun (TY, Oura), or posting workouts on Instagram. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n