Your core is the part of your body that helps make daily movements safer and more efficient. Like whenever you reach, carry, walk, bend, or twist. A strong core offers health benefits as you age in addition to everyday proper movement.

It’s the part of the human body located between the pelvic floor and your diaphragm, and its main job is to hold and protect your spine. Your abdominal muscles are part of your core, but they’re just one part of a larger system.

Building up a strong core is also an important aspect of training, with core stability providing the foundation for optimal movement of the body.

Let’s talk about how to strengthen your core.

How to Strengthen Your Core

All motions are generated through the core of the body and it’s essentially the driving force and base of support for the entire body.

The core bridges the body together, and provides the connection between our lower and upper extremities.

A strong, flexible core can help prevent injuries, increase athletic performance and improve postural imbalance.

When it comes to how to improve your core strength, don’t just think sit-ups and crunches. Some of the more effective ways to build core strength are through movements such as squats, dead lifts, shoulder presses and pull ups.

What happens if you have a weak core?

When you have a weak core, you’re missing part of the armour so to speak for your body. It keeps us upright, it connects our upper body to our lower body, and it helps us twist and turn and move freely. A strong core also enhances balance and stability.

If we have a weak core, we may begin to see our ability to move becoming harder and risk for injury increases.  Core strength is also crucial for fall prevention, with the elderly among us at higher risk of more serious injury from falls.

What are the signs of a weak core?

• Bad balance
• Poor posture
• Hard to get up from seated position
• Have difficulty standing for long periods
• Lower back pain

How can I strengthen my core during the day?

• While breathing, relax your abs, shoulders, and neck
• When seated, sit up tall with your back straight and not arched
• Lift weights
• Do any form of cardio
• Practice Yoga and/or Pilates

What are the benefits of improving your core strength

• Everyday tasks can become easier
• A healthier back may result
• Enjoy sports and other pleasurable activities
• Housework and gardening become physically easier
• Improved posture, balance and stability

Your abdominal muscles are like any other muscles of the body and grow and become stronger in the same way. Use resistance training that progressively gets more difficult to build muscle as you train on a consistent basis.

What are some exercises you can do to improve and strengthen your core?

• Planks
• Side planks
• V-sits, L-twists
• Russian twists
• Bicycle ab crunches
• Dumbbell side benches
• Dead bugs
• Leg raises
• Ab wheel roll-outs

Final Thoughts

Find an activity that you enjoy. This will make you more likely to succeed on a consistent long-term health plan.

As we’ve seen, strengthening your core muscles is an important part of any fitness program, and is important to a lifetime of optimal health.

Read More:

How to Build a Better Core

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