I struggle with dead bugs so I swapped them for knee tucks — and my deep core strength has never been better

Woman smiling at camera with hands on hips showing abs in activewear.

My core strength has improved a lot this year, thanks to a mix of weightlifting, Pilates and yoga. Keeping consistent with a variety of core-strengthening exercises has been crucial for improving stability and balance over time, but there are some moves that work better than others.

I've always struggled to feel the dead bug properly, even when trying weighted dead bugs instead. For some reason, even after speaking with a variety of instructors about my form and engagement, one of the best exercises for deep core strength just doesn't do it for me.