Understanding and Enhancing Your Core Strength
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Understanding and Enhancing Your Core Strength Train your body in a functional way One of the hot buzzwords flying around the gym these days is 'core strength.' While dancers and athletes have long known the advantages of having a strong torso, the idea of core strength is only now trickling down to the rest of us. So what is core strength and why should you worry about it? One reason is this: all of our movements are powered by our torsos--the abs and back work together to support the spine when we sit, stand, bend over, pick things up, exercise and more. The torso is the body's center of power, so the stronger you are in that area, the easier your daily activities will be. What is the Core? When someone talks about the core, they're referring to all of the muscles that deep within the abs and back, attaching to the spine or pelvis. Some of these muscles include the transversus abdominis (TVA), the muscles of the pelvic floor, the lats and the obliques, just to name a few. These muscles are where movement originates and it's also the source of our stability. Whether you're running, lifting weights or picking up your toddler, these 'core' muscles help keep your body stable and balanced. With this focus on core strength, the fitness industry has moved towards training the body as a whole, rather than focusing on separate muscle groups. This means incorporating torso training throughout your workout, rather than just doing the usual standard crunches. This type of functional training can be seen everywhere as more people use things like stability balls and wobble boards in their regular workouts. Core training has many benefits including: Enhancing Your Core Strength Incorporating more functional training into your workouts may be as simple as changing or adding new exercises to your usual routine. The following are just some ideas for making your ab/back workouts a little more dynamic: Enjoy! |
