If you have ever trained with me, you will know that I am a big believer in core fitness. I run classes specifically designed to develop and strengthen core muscles and I talk about it all the time in training sessions! My obsession with it is not however related to achieving a flat and toned beach ready tummy – it is much deeper than that.
Boosting core strength is essential to everyday health and mobility of your body. In my experience it can help you avoid injury. Good core engagement helps with controlling joints when performing strength exercises – for example, when lunging forward a solid core can help protect your knees. A strong core will also stabilise your pelvic area. In my classes we concentrate a lot on working glute muscles, which play a big role in protecting your back and pelvis. Crucial if you are sitting down for most of the day at a laptop or lifting heavy objects.
Good core strength can also lead to better posture. My own posture is not brilliant, but I try to work on it every day. Again, not just for aesthetic purposes (yes it does look better and, in my opinion, can make someone look more confident) but also for health benefits. Your core muscles wrap around your spine, so keeping these muscles strong will help keep pain away and easier to maintain good posture. Slouching and pushing your neck forward can lead to pain in the whole upper body and this is something I see a lot as a massage therapist.
When we work the core, we work all the muscles surrounding the trunk; the muscles connecting your hips, spine, neck, and shoulders. Your abdominals (or the ‘six pack’) are only one part of this. In my 20’s I would go for a long run one day and do around 100 sit ups the next, never feeling strong or developing the toned physique I was hoping for and subsequently wondering why! Many of the targeted abdominal exercises leave most of your core out of the equation. It is completely fine to spend a lot of time doing abdominal crunches, but they will not work anything but the abdominals. Think more about total body movements. Mix up your exercises so that you are not doing the same thing over and over. Try exercising one limb at a time, for example a one-legged glute bridge – the core must work harder to achieve this position.
Focussing on your core muscles will also help you to get better at other sports. It will improve your agility, balance, and stability due to the fact that your centre will be working harder. When the core muscles are fired up, you will become better at lifting, reaching, twisting and punching. A strong core would improve a golf swing for example or provide more power to a tennis serve.
Finally, it is important to keep a healthy and sensible attitude regarding fitness and your own physique – do not compare yourself to anybody else. I know super strong people who do not have a toned stomach but can lift heavy weights and are incredibly athletic. Equally I know people with visible abdominals who have barely exercised. The six-pack look is not always a reflection of fitness – it can come down to good diet or genetics. Visible abdominals are not available to everyone and some people are naturally more prone to storing fat in that area. The message is, do not obsess over it and think more about tracking your overall fitness progress – how much more can you lift? How much further can you run? How much sugar have you cut down on?
For any tips, please message me. I am more than happy to help.
Gill x
