What is your core?
Your core refers to the group of muscles located in the torso region of your body, including the abdominals, obliques, lower back muscles, and stabilizing muscles around the pelvis and spine. These muscles work together to provide stability, support, and strength for your entire body, acting as a central link between your upper and lower body movements.
Why you should improve your core strength
A strong core improves posture, balance, and overall athletic performance, reducing the risk of injuries during physical activities. Additionally, a stable core enables efficient transfer of power between the upper and lower body, enhancing coordination and generating greater force in movements such as when swinging a racket in tennis.
How to improve your core strength
Improving core muscle strength involves a combination of stability training, full-body movements, bodyweight exercises, and functional training.
Stability training engages the core muscles by challenging balance and stability through activities like standing on one leg or using a stability ball. Full-body movements, such as squats and deadlifts, require core stabilization to maintain proper form and alignment, effectively strengthening the core muscles along with other major muscle groups. Bodyweight exercises like the plank target the core muscles without the need for additional equipment, while functional training incorporates dynamic movements that mimic everyday activities or sports-specific motions to engage the core muscles in a practical manner.
Some Core Workout Exercises
Core Workout Examples
- This Resistance Band Workout has elements to improve core strength
- The Pilates Training Method
- Body weight exercises