We all know that core exercises are good for us, but do you include them in your fitness routine? I want to highlight the benefits of training your core and why it should be included in a fitness programme.
While it may be good motivation to look good on the beach, strengthening your core isn’t the only reason to get your torso in shape. Your core is about more than a superficial six pack, it’s your body’s powerhouse and includes all the muscles in the trunk. It facilitates movement and protects your inner organs and central nervous system. It helps you do just about everything.
Core exercises train the muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen to work in harmony. This leads to better balance and stability, whether on the playing field or in daily activities. In fact, most sports and other physical activities depend on stable core muscles.
Just because you are strong, don’t be fooled in to thinking you have a strong core; building this takes time and determination. Having a plan to do this means:
- Improvement in overall fitness: once your deeper muscles are working, your overall fitness will improve making you less prone to injury. Strong core muscles make it easier to do many activities, such as swinging a golf club, picking something up from the top shelf or bending down to tie your shoelaces. If you’re exercising and are weak in your core, it can lead to more fatigue, less endurance and injury.
- Protecting vital systems: a strong core also means protecting those vital systems below the surface. Keeping strong core muscles will help ensure that major arteries, veins and organs stay protected as you move throughout your day.
- Mitigating potential back problems: back pain is a common side effect of a weak core. Trust me, I know this from personal experience and I treat clients for this on a daily basis. As highlighted in my last blog, sitting at a desk all day doesn’t help. Not being mindful of how we’re sitting, and not engaging our core, can lead to pain.
- Developing confidence: once you’ve developed your core stability, you can start working on the more superficial core muscles to build strength you’ll be able to see. It’s amazing the affect it will have on your confidence. Exercises like the plank, the glute bridge and other abdominal moves are great ways to get started. Classes and workouts that incorporate Bosu and stability balls are another good option. Although it takes aerobic activity to burn abdominal fat, core exercises can strengthen and tone the underlying muscles.
Core exercises don’t require you to be a member of a gym. All you need is an exercise mat and your own body weight. If you need any guidance please call me on 07734263913 to discuss. I also run classes online on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evening at 7pm. We work on specific core based exercises and the benefits are enormous.
Gill.
