The key to strong abs
- Posted on: Mar 4 2014
You may have heard that it’s important to strengthen your core. But do you know why—or how? Here are answers to questions you may have:
What is your core?
The core refers to muscles in your abdomen and lower back. You might not realize it, but these muscles are involved in many everyday activities—bending over to tie your shoes, lifting a bag of groceries and even getting dressed.
Doing targeted exercises can help you strengthen and tone these muscles, improving your posture and reducing your risk of low back pain. Having a strong core can also help you perform better at golf, tennis, biking and running. It can stabilize your body, reducing your risk of falls. Unfortunately, most workouts neglect these important muscles.
What are some examples of simple core exercises?
Core exercises train the muscles in your pelvis, low back, abdomen and hips to work together to maintain stability. For the following workouts, all you need is a mat.
Try the bridge: Lie on your back with your knees bent, arms by your side, and tighten your abdominal muscles. Raise your hips off the floor until they’re aligned with your knees and shoulders. Hold this position, then slowly lower your hips.
Another good core exercise: the dead bug. Lie on your back with your knees bent. Bring one leg up, then the other. Extend one leg out, then back again. Alternate. Keep your back stable, and avoid moving your pelvis up and down. You can make this exercise more challenging by alternating your arms and legs.
If I exercise my core, will I get six pack abs?
Not unless you reduce your body fat. Stick to a low-fat and low-calorie diet—and make time for aerobic exercise.
For more information on the benefits of core exercise, contact us here.
Tagged with: core exercises, six pack abs, strengthening your core
Posted in: All Posts, Fitness, Health & Wellness
