While our limbs provide mobility, reach and strength it is our body core that provides the basis of each movement. Sedentary lives can cause our body core muscles to weaken and become subject to strain or injury. Even if you workout or participate in sports you may not be working the body core muscles you rely on to perform.
WHAT IS MY BODY 'CORE'?
Your body core is the midsection of your body, from your groin to your shoulders. The core includes the pelvis, abs, back and chest muscles. It is this core that offers stability, balance and flexibility. Every movement you make originates in the core - whether you are reaching for your toothbrush or running a marathon. If the core is not properly conditioned it will limit your physical abilities.
Working the muscles in your body core will improve the effectiveness of movements in your limbs. Most exercise routines focus on building muscle. By creating a stable, strong base for those muscles you can optimize the strength and flexibility of each limb.
HOW DO I STRENGTHEN MY BODY CORE?
There are many exercise routines and products that work the muscles of the body core. Professional trainers create customized routines to enhance an athlete's abilities by developing the proper core muscles. However, there are also many programs developed for individuals who wish to incorporate it into their fitness routine or to begin one.
The exercises and products developed to strengthen your body core do so by creating resistance or instability so that the core muscles must respond to maintain balance. The exercises are gentle on the body but are intense and beginners will quickly 'feel' the muscles being used. Proper alignment is key so having a trainer to check your position will help identify the safest and most effective way to perform an exercise.
Body core exercises often imitate moves that we employ in daily life or sports and thus train the body to rely on the core and reduce the strain we put on our limbs. Two popular forms of exercise that develop core body strength are Pilates and the Swiss ball.
Pilates uses the body as its own form of resistance. Learning to breath properly and perform slow, controlled movements allows a person to isolate and strengthen core muscles.
The Swiss ball (also known as a Fitness ball) is an easy and fun way to strengthen the body core. While there are many exercises that can be performed with the Swiss ball, simply sitting on it will create the instability needed to engage the core muscles to maintain balance.
Good core strength is important at every age and fitness level. Whatever your goals, find a way to incorporate body core conditioning into your routine to reduce fatigue, avoid muscle strain and improve your strength and mobility.
The core of the body is the entire torso area including the pelvis, back, chest and shoulders.
And it is this mid-section of the body that most movement originates from including the simple act of moving the mouse on your computer. Without a properly conditioned body core most of us would not be able to perform the most basic of functions and our daily actives would be severely limited.
Training the body core will not only improve the strength of your limbs, it will also improve your posture as well. And while there are many exercises that train different parts of the body core such as the abdominals, not all exercises condition the entire body core. Additionally, doing exercises that stress only one aspect of your core such as the abdominal muscles can lead to an imbalance of your muscles which can cause strain or injury.
While there are several types of exercises that address the body core such as yoga, Windsor Pilates is one of the few exercise programs which takes a comprehensive approach to conditioning the body core.
Pilates was originally developed by Joseph Pilates - a nurse, in the early part of the 20th century. In trying to help his patients rehabilitate from their illnesses, Joseph Pilates formulated a series of movements that could be practiced within limited confines.
The exercises that Pilates developed consisted of exact movements that require control and good form. He designed hundreds of exercises focusing on "core" muscles - mostly in the stomach and back.
Another aspect of the Pilate's exercise program is that it emphasizes one's own body weight for resistance training to build body strength.
A great number of Pilate's exercises are done lying or sitting on a mat which often imitates movements that are employed in daily life or in sporting activities such as rowing a boat.
Besides conditioning the body core, Pilates exercises offer additional benefits such as:
Helps flexibility
Helps to alleviate back pain
Builds stronger muscles
Reduces stress and tension
Improves your posture
Improves your coordination
Increases range of motion
Improves your balance
A strong body core is important for everyone, both male and female, from a professional athlete to a housewife. And Pilates is a great way to condition your body core, get fit and improve your strength and flexibility.
Both Nicky Pilkington & Patricia Zelkovsky are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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