Many of us are well accustomed to the development of the glory muscles. Muscles like the chest, shoulders, quads and glutes will always get special attention in the gym – but how many people train their core correctly?
Yes, you see others doing simple exercises like leg raises and crunches to work their “abs,” but when I say core, I mean something different.
Think of the core as an entire muscular system that spans the entire surface of the stomach and back. The core is a system of muscles that starts at the hips and runs all the way up to the ribcage – supporting the body the entire way without fault.
With that said, many people have a very weak core which can lead to back pain, hip pain, and even pain in the upper back and neck.
Training your core is important for these main reasons:
1. Your core is your stability. Whenever you’re doing an exercise where a load is placed on your back, shoulders, or overhead, your core is the main muscular system that is providing stability.
- Think of it as the bridge between your upper and lower body. If the bridge is weak, the connection between the two (upper and lower body) will not be nearly as effective as it could be.
- Training your core is important for stability not only in everyday movements but also in big overhead movements when you’re strength training. A weak core means a weak squat and a weak overhead press.
2. Your core helps you walk and run. Since the core links the upper and lower body together, it will act as a synergist in nearly every step.
- A strong core means you have strong and efficient movement when you walk and run. The core will also help to absorb shock. When you’re running, your body is impacted with about 40 x your bodyweight on each stride. If your goal is to run a long distance, you must have a strong core.
3. A strong core makes you look great. Last but not least, the core is important because a strong core looks great. Your core is very important to your overall wellbeing but training the core for strength and physique is also important.
Having a great core is more diet than training, but when both of these ideas meet in harmony, you’ll have a core that is built for strength and success in any setting.
Core strength is important for your balance, stability, body strength, weightlifting goals, and running goals. This core muscle system appeals in the aesthetics of training. Plus, it helps keep your back, neck, and hips pain-free.
This is one system that cannot go unnoticed in your training program.
For best results, be sure to try and hit your core for about 60 minutes of training each week. Dedicated ab sessions, rather than 5 minutes after each workout, also seem to show better strength returns. You can check out my 16 minute plank workout to get started. Incorporating planks into your workouts are a great way to challenge every part of your core.
Start training for core strength today. You’ll like the way you feel!