Importance of Core Strength
Why Strengthen Your Core Muscles
The Plank Exercise is one of the best core exercises to practice at home.
The Plank exercise has many variations to help build core strength.
A strong core has many positive benefits, especially for anyone over 40!
Working on core strength helps improve posture, reducing the risk of lower back pains, to balance improvements. Our core muscles help support our spine, back, and everyday important movements.
What Are The Signs of a Weak Core?
Lower back aches and pains.
Difficulties balancing on one leg or walking.
Can experience digestive issues like constipation.
Poor posture.
Use your arms to go from sit-to-stand positions.
How to Build Core Strength
Building good core strength is not working out just on your front Ab muscles!
We need to work on all the core muscles such as; the Pelvic floor, Multifidus and Erector Spinae (muscles along the spine), Obliques (side belly muscles), Transversus Abdominis (deep abdominal muscles in front), Hip flexors (front of hips), and Rectus Abdominis (front Abs).
Pilates is great for core strengthening and works all the core muscles and more! You can learn more about Pilates in Jodie’s live-stream online Pilates classes or on Russell Island for face-to-face classes.
All these core muscles have important functions in the body. They help spinal stability, with posture, exercise correctly, and reduce the risk of injuries!
Now we know a little more about all the core muscles then we can choose the right core exercises.
If you are limited with time, you can work on core exercises that work on more than one muscle. Some of the best core exercises are; Planks, Bird-dog balance, Russian twists, Bridges, Supermans, and swims. These are the best core exercises to practice if you are a beginner or over 50!
If you are a beginner or over 50, start with the basic plank exercise. If you have weak wrists/hands you can do planks on forearms. You can also modify and keep your knees on the ground (half plank). Start with 10-second holds and build up to one minute and longer.
Watch Jodie’s beginner core workout video for the best beginner core exercises that are knee-friendly!
Just doing crunches or curl-ups is not enough and can be unsafe for the neck!
Working on compound big exercises like squats, pushups, pull-ups or rows, and deadlifts, can also work the big core muscles.
What can cause weak core muscles?
Weak core muscles can be caused by lack of exercise, poor posture, age-related, injury, prolonged sitting, and poor body movements.
Include weekly core exercises in your exercises at home to improve your health when over 50 and have fun!
Learn more in Jodie’s 7-day free trial in online Pilates and Yoga classes. Jodie uses resistance bands and mini balls in her Pilates classes for more fun and variety. You won’t get bored!
Looking for a standing core workout? Watch Jodie’s new standing Ab and Booty workout you can do at home for something a little different!
Are you a senior? Watch Jodie’s new standing chair Pilates core workout for seniors video.
Follow Jodie at Kevala Health for inspiration on Facebook and Instagram.
