Core Strength Exercises - They Take More Than Abs Exercises!

What are core strength exercises?

They're exercises for your innermost muscles - the muscles that run the length of your trunk and torso and consist of many different muscles that stabilize your spine, back and pelvis. These muscles stabilize the spine, pelvis and shoulder and provide a solid base of support.

The said muscles also absorb shock, stabilize the body and link the arms and legs.

With a strong core, you can produce powerful movements as the stability that comes forth provide a solid foundation and transfers energy from the center of your body out to your limbs - you carry out arm and leg movements with more control, improving the quality of your movement. Also, stronger, balanced core muscles help maintain good posture, reduce strain on your spine and lessens back pain.

P/S: The core is where your innermost strength comes from

Good core strength exercises should work on stabilising and supporting the trunk and torso. You would do an effective core program when your torso works as a solid base; your front and back muscles contract; you do multi joint movements and you also stabilize your spine.

Pilates snugly fits into this category because every one of its exercise movement centres around the core muscles (or the powerhouse as is known in Pilates) and you initiate from your powerhouse and flow outward to the extremities. You generate energy from your center to coordinate your movements. In this way, you build a strong foundation (core) which helps in your daily movements and activities.

I just want to say a few more things about Pilates as an excellent core strength program:

1. All its exercises initiate from the muscles of the abs, lower back, hips and butts or the powerhouse. You lift up and out of this region in all exercise movements

2. You scoop a "hollow" in your belly by pressing your navel back to your spine, hence using your abs muscles to reinforce muscles that run alongside your spine. This action not only strengthens and stretches your lower back muscles but also makes a flat abdominal wall

3. Simultaneously, you work every muscle of your body - abs, lower back, hips, thighs, butts......This is excellent to maintain coordination and balance

4. There're no static or isolated movements as you would be engaged in "flowing" and "fluid" dynamic exercise movements

As Pilates results in a strong core, you find you're more energized; able to stand up straighter; more flexible; have more strength and your aches and pains disappear......

Truly, many have used Pilates to alleviate them of back pains, shoulder and neck problems; injuries; postural problems.....
Pilates doesn't just give you a strong core; it also tremendously improves your strength. Indeed, it's considered one of the best strength training exercises around. You'll have strength where it's needed and enjoy the power of strength in your daily life.

Cecelia Yap is an avid exerciser and author of the popular exercise website: perfect-body-toning.com - a web site born out of her passion which she successfully turns into a profitable business. Perhaps you have a passion or hobby you'd like to write about. Find out how you too can turn it into a profitable business like Cecelia does