Core Strength Basics
A lot of modern fitness training revolves around core strength enhancement. If you have been working out at a gym or with a personal trainer, you surely have heard of core strength and core training. And if you are not quite sure what these things really mean, then there is no need to worry! What you first need to understand is that ‘core’ refers to your torso. Professionals such as dancers and athletes have always vouched for the importance of core strength in their careers and finally core training is getting its due credit.
The fact is that, your torso powers almost all movements you make. That is exactly why your core strength has major influence on your mobility as a whole. Your abs and back muscles work in tandem, no matter whether you sit, stand, bend over or flex your body in any direction. So the stronger your core is, the better it is for you!
So, which are the muscles that make up the core? The major ones, which actually contribute to core strength, are:
Transverse abdominis: this is the deepest-lying abdominal muscle and acts like a wrap around your spine, protecting it and giving you stability.
External obliques: these are the muscles of your waist and are present on the side and front of your abdomen.
Internal obliques: these muscles lie underneath the external obliques.
Rectus abdominis: this is an elongated muscle present along the front of the abdomen. With reduced body fat and exercise, this muscle becomes visible in the form of ‘six pack’ abs!
Erector spinae: a group of three muscles which extend along your neck, all the way down to your lower back.
So, you can well guess why core strength is the buzzword in the fitness circuit nowadays. The importance of training the whole body, as opposed to specific muscle groups, is being finally accepted. So, fitness trainers are incorporating torso training in your workouts with increasing vigor.
But what are the specific benefits you get when your personal trainer asks you to do core strengthening exercises? Some of the major benefits for you are:
You actually do a workout that relates to your daily life. This is because a stronger core helps you to get more out of life in terms of activity and vigor.
If you are into sports or choreography, you can expect to perform much better, provided your core is strong.
Whether in day to day life or sports, you can reduce the chances of injury, drastically. Core training can make muscle sprains and aches, a thing of the past for you!
In trying to increase core strength you also end up doing such workouts which are challenging and help you gain greater interest for fitness training as a whole.
Ask your fitness trainer to incorporate core training exercises into your schedule, now that you know the various benefits you can get. Using stability balls, wobble boards and yoga or Pilates can be the easiest ways to get acquainted with core training.
Start core strength training today and enjoy the benefits for a lifetime!
Author Bio: Mike has some of the most effective core strength exercises he’s learned to use in his years as a personal trainer Martinez area. He also works as an El Sobrante personal trainer and helps his clients get into great shape.
Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: core strength, exercise, core exercise, core workout, get in shape, core fitness, stengthen core