If I wanted sculpted shoulders and arms I’d do this Pilates-style strength workout

A woman performs a dumbbell kneeling lateral raise in a living room on a yoga mat. Her legs are bent underneath her and her arms are raised out to the sides, a dumbbell grasped in each hand. She is smiling and behind her we see a grey couch, wooden coffee table, a desk and chair and black shelving. .

Pilates targets the core muscles with slow, controlled movements that improve posture, flexibility and balance. I love Pilates but don’t have time for in-person classes, so this home workout by strength and Pilates coach Courteney Fisher is perfect for me—especially as I’m trying to build core stability at the moment.

A stronger core can improve your balance, reduce back pain, boost your posture and lower your risk of injuries. This dumbbell workout focuses on upper body moves, but because it is done kneeling, it also works the core muscles as they are forced to stabilize the body.