Forget crunches — this 10-minute core workout fired up my abs more than 100 sit-ups using a surprising piece of equipment

A woman doing a bear plank with Pilates ball.

I've officially got World Cup fever, and I even bought my dog Mobie a little mini soccer ball to play with outdoors during the warmer weather in the UK. One evening recently, admittedly a little bored, I started playing with the ball and realized it's pretty similar to a Pilates ball.

Without hesitation, I rolled out one of the best yoga mats and got to work programming a quick 10-minute abs workout using just the ball for equipment. My core is still trembling now.