Listen up: Your abs exist for more reasons than looking good at the beach.

Your abdominals are part of your core, which is composed of the more popular upper and lower abs, as well as the obliques, your back, psoas and glute muscles.

You may not realize it if you’re spending hours working out and avoiding functional core moves, but your core provides a muscular framework that protects internal organs, aids movement and lends balance and stability to your whole body.

A stronger core will also help you become a better athlete, decrease chances of serious injuries and speed up your metabolism. Every move you make relies on your core. Isn’t that reason enough to focus at least some of your attention on something other than bigger arms?

We thought so. Let’s get to work! Here are the best moves build a stronger core, show off a chiseled six pack and become a better all-around athlete all at once—all of which you can do from anywhere!

Before You Begin…

Do each exercise for 30 seconds doing as many repetitions as you can. Go from one exercise to another without resting. After you’ve done each one you should rest for 60 seconds, then repeat the whole cycle again. Do this routine two to three times a week. Keep in mind that changing the order of the exercises will also provide great variety to your workout routine.