Beyond Situps
By Jane Ellis, Yoga Instructor and Personal Trainer from Keys2Fitness
When people think about their “core” more than likely their minds think of six-pack abs. Having ripped abs is certainly a motivating home fitness goal, and looking great lounging by the pool can help keep us encouraged to power through our workouts. However, these 6-pack abs aren’t always a good indicator of solid core strength. Let’s take a deeper look at what a strong core really means.
Whether your fitness goals include simply looking great in swimwear, improving your golf swing or being able to play with your grandchildren; core strength training is vital. You use your core muscles surrounding your trunk and pelvis every day while opening doors or picking up your child. The groups of muscles that make up your core include your abdominals, obliques, glutes, hamstring and back. Your core muscles are a platform that affects other muscles in the body such as your shoulders, arms and legs. And the strengthening of your core can help improve the performance of these peripheral muscles, improve your balance and greatly reduce injury.
In everyday life, “the abdominals are braces,” says McGill, author of “Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance”. When doing any athletic movement, even opening a door, “the spine is in a neutral position, not flexed, and the abdominal muscles are contracted to brace the spine.” Like the plank, the best exercises for back health and a firmer stomach are ones that work your abs while holding your spine straight, like push-ups or leg drops. And because your core is the center of power for most other exercises, a workout full of dynamic movements targeting legs, arms and back also translates to a good core workout.
Jane Ellis is a registered Yoga Instructor with 6 years’ experience, as well as an ACE Certified Personal Trainer. Incorporating yoga with strength training has become her ideal balance for her clients. Jane puts emphasis on whole foods and understanding the role nutrition plays in becoming healthier. Jane practices what she preaches at the Personal Training Studio in Wyomissing, Keys2FItness. The local studio wants to help build a health oriented community and help their clients prioritize their health! They do not sell gym memberships, only personal training and boot camps customized for their clients’ specific goals and lifestyle! Call Keys2Fitness today to set up a free fitness assessment 484-577-4172