Core strength can be pivotal in helping an individual maintain their mobility for longer and live a healthy life. And the 69-year-old professional fitness coach, Denise Austin, has a few tips for the purpose.

Research from multiple organizations, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, and a few more, says that core strength can also improve balance in aged adults. So, let's take a look at the seven standing exercises Austin suggests to achieve the same.

Denise Austin's 7 exercises to maintain better core strength for longer

A report from Women's Health on June 15 featured Austin demonstrating the seven exercises with her 32-year-old daughter, Katie. The exercises require minimal weight and can be performed even with a single dumbbell.

Side Pull (both sides)

Stand with your feet hip-width apart, and hold the dumbbell in both hands. Now, step one foot backwards into a lunge, with your back leg fixed while bending your front knee. Finally, press the dumbbell forward to shoulder height and repeat for both sides.

Side Crunch (both sides)

The standing position remains similar for this one. Hold the dumbbell in one hand and raise it high. While coming down, your knee rises to meet your elbow at the lowest point in a side crunch. Repeat this for both sides.

Standing Crunch

The standing position changes to legs being a few inches apart. Now, hold and raise the dumbbell with both hands. While coming down, fold the knees in the forward direction to meet the dumbbell as high as you can. Repeat this for both legs.

Bringing the dumbbell down towards your knee engages the abs, which helps target the core.

Standing Twist

The standing position for this changes to the previous one, with your feet hip-width apart. Now hold the dumbbell at the middle of your chest and twist your torso side to side in sync with the dumbbell, keeping your feet still.

Side Reach

Standing in the same position, first perform a regular bicep curl, and then extend the arm sideways and pull it back in. Repeat for both arms.

Side Dips

Hold the dumbbell in the resting position in one hand and place the other hand on your head with the elbow pointing outward. Standing in the same position, slowly bend your torso sideways to get your arm and the dumbbell as low as you can, targeting the obliques. Repeat for both sides.

Front Raise

Standing in the same position, hold the dumbbell with both hands before the middle of the waist. Now slowly raise it till your arms are parallel to the ground and return to the beginning position.

Denise Austin Credits Daily Exercise for Lasting Results

Speaking with Fox News Digital, back in January 2026, the mother of two said her transformation photos are meant to inspire others by highlighting the power of showing up every day.

"I saved all of my leotards from back in the day, from the ‘80s and ‘90s, which I used to wear on my videos and on my TV show," she said. "It’s a testament to me being 68 now and keeping it up. That’s all it takes, keeping it up, keeping up with your workouts.

Other than following the seven standing exercises, Austin's workout routine also includes cardio aerobics, as reported by Prevention in an article in February 2026. She performs jumping jacks, aerobic pony classic, and the Charleston among others.

So now that you know about Austin's methods to maintain core strength, will you try them out for yourself? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Souvik Roy

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar