Shakira’s personal trainer reveals the killer core workout behind her abs

Shakira‘s longtime personal trainer has revealed the core workout that keeps the singer — and her famous abs — in incredible shape. 

Anna Kaiser, founder and CEO of Anna Kaiser Studios, has been working with the Colombian pop star since they teamed up for her ‘She Wolf’ video over a decade ago.

Shakira, 45, is a devotee of the fitness expert’s signature heart-pumping workouts, which combine dance-based cardio with toning and strength exercises. 

Kaiser told Shape that she makes a point to share anatomical ‘tricks’ with the Grammy winner, who likes to know what makes her workouts effective.  

Shakira’s longtime personal trainer Anna Kaiser has revealed the core workout that keeps the singer in stellar shape 

Shakira, 45, is a devotee of the fitness expert’s signature heart-pumping workouts, which combine dance-based cardio with toning and strength exercises

‘She is such a cute nerd and loves learning about anything science related,’ she explained. 

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)-certified trainer keeps the ‘BZRP Music Sessions #53’ singer motivated ‘by bringing incredibly positive energy.’

And while music is usually part of their routine, her client sometimes likes to work out in silence when she is recording an album. 

Shakira is known for her killer abs, so it should come as no surprise to fans that her core is her favorite area to focus on during her training sessions.  

‘She loves core work but knows she needs the cardio,’ Kaiser said, but all of those ab exercises have an interesting effect on the songstress. 

‘It makes her hungry!’ the celebrity trainer explained. ‘I don’t know anyone else that gets hungry during [abs exercises].’

The Anna Kaiser Studios founder has been working with the Colombian pop star since they teamed up for her ‘She Wolf’ video over a decade ago

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Kaiser told Shape that Shakira (pictured in 2010) loves core work, but ‘it makes her hungry’

The trainer, whose A-list clients include Kelly Ripa and Sarah Jessica Parker, said she doesn’t know anyone who ‘gets hungry during [ab exercises]’ aside from Shakira (pictured 2022)

Kaiser, whose A-list clients also include Kelly Rip and Sarah Jessica Parker, shared Shakira’s killer workout with Shape, saying it will challenge ‘every muscle in your core.’ 

She noted that the moves utilize the entire body, not just the abs, ‘because your body works as a unit, not a combination of parts.’ 

The trainer posted videos of herself performing some of Shakira’s go-to moves on Instagram, where she has more than 275,000 followers. 

The workout requires a mat, a Pilates ball, a light set of weights (1-5 lbs.), a medium set of weights (8-10 lbs.), and a towel. 

Kaiser recommends doing all of the exercises on one side and then repeating the entire sequence on the other. 

Side cincher

For the side cincher, Kaiser slowly lowers a medium weight down toward her knee while lifting the opposite weight up toward her armpit 

For Kaiser’s first move, the side cincher, she stands with her feet hip-width apart while holding medium weights in each hand. 

Starting with her left side, she slowly lowers the dumbbell down toward her left knee while lifting the right weight up toward her right armpit. 

She keeps her core engaged and her body squared to the front the entire time. The trainer advises doing 20 reps.

‘MOST IMPORTANTLY focus on engaging your core mindfully with each rep,’ she notes on Instagram. ‘What muscles do you feel working? Can you turn on more? Can you reach lower?’

Standing march with weighted crunch 

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The standing march with weighted crunch involves keeping the weights pressed together while reaching the arms above the head. When Kaiser pulls her arms down, she rotates her torso toward her left side while simultaneously lifting her left knee

Next up is the standing march with a weighted crunch.

Kaiser is once again standing with her hip-width apart and weights in her hands, though she recommends using the light set for this exercise. 

She keeps the weights pressed together as she reaches her arms above her head. When she pulls her arms down, she rotates her torso toward her left side while simultaneously lifting her left knee. 

As she brings her left leg back down, she lifts both arms back overhead and then restarts the sequence. She says the move should be repeated for a minute. 

Kaiser adds on Instagram that you can ‘substitute mountain climbers for the marches if you’re in beast mode!’ 

Lateral teaser

While doing the lateral teaser, the trainer squeezes her legs together as she raises her left arm over her head and extends her legs. She then pulls her left elbow toward her left oblique while simultaneously bending her knees toward her chest

Kaiser continues the ab-burning workout with the lateral teaser. 

She is sitting on her right side with a Pilates ball between her thighs. She is propped up on her right elbow while her toes and hips are angled to the corner of her mat.

The trainer squeezes her legs together as she raises her left arm over her head and extends her legs. She then pulls her left elbow toward her left oblique while simultaneously bending her knees toward her chest. 

Kaiser recommends repeating the sequence for 15 slow and controlled reps. 

Seated c-curve with overhead towel extension 

For the seated c-curve with overhead towel extension, Kaiser holds a towel between her hands and leans her torso back as far as she can. She remains in that position as she raises the towel overhead and then lowers it back down in line with her shoulder

For this move, Kaiser starts seated with her knees bent and her thighs clenched together, her heels driving into the floor. 

She holds a towel between her hands and pulls it to activate the muscles in her arms as she leans her torso back as far as she can while maintaining a neutral spine position. 

Kaiser remains in that position as she raises the towel overhead and then lowers it back down in line with her shoulder.    

She suggests doing 15 slow reps.   

 Three-count crunch with Pilates ball

Kaiser places a Pilates ball just under her shoulders for the three-count crunch. Her hands are behind her head and her legs are extended in a V. She then brings her chin up to her chest in three separate movements, lifting herself higher with each rep

Kaiser begins the final move in the workout by lying on her mat with a Pilates ball placed just under her shoulder blades — the area where the bra line usually lays. 

She places her hands behind her head as she extends her legs out in a slightly rotated V, her toes are pointed away from the mat. 

Kaiser exhales as she brings her chin up to her chest in three separate movements, lifting herself higher with each rep. She then lowers her head back before repeating the sequence. 

The trainer advises doing 15 reps.