As a mother of three, those days of having flat and toned abs are long gone. Many dedicated women (and individuals) put in the WORK to have sculpted abs regardless of how many children they've birthed, but that's just not me. I'm OK with my snug-fitting high-waisted jeans, but I am not OK with my chronic back pain. An apple is only as strong as its core, and so are our bodies. Having a solid core is important, but you don't need a six-pack, a four-pack, or even a two-pack to acheive core strength.
Why is core strength so important? Lauren Elson, MD, a Havard Medical contributor, stated, "Core strength is less about power and more about the subtleties of maintaining the body in ideal postures — to unload the joints and promote ease of movement. For the average person, this helps them maintain the ability to get on and off the floor to play with their children or grandchildren, stand up from a chair, sit comfortably at a desk, or vacuum and rake without pain." A solid core strengthens us to function in our day-to-day lives. Like Dr. Elson mentioned, we all need the ability to get out of a chair, get up off the floor, and lift our Amazon boxes off the porch without pulling our backs out.
What exactly is the core? In short, the body's core is a muscle group that supports the spine (hence, back pain is common in individuals with a weak core). According to the American Council on Exercise, our bodies comprise several core muscles, like our obliques and abdominis (visit ACE-CORE link for more details). These muscles handle the protection and movement of the spine. The elasticity of our spines is crucial to maintaining and retaining mobility as we age.
Improving core strength can be accomplished by anyone at any age. With the appropriate expectations and dedication, freeing yourself from chronic pain and improving daily movements are only a few core exercises away. Try this routine by ACE (The American Council of Exercise) below once a day, and see if you don't start to feel stronger after only a few weeks.
Click the link below to get started!
on January 20, 2016
Autumn Hawkins has received her ASIS in Communication through Indiana Wesleyan. She is also a certified Yoga instructor (YTT 200) and received her certification for nutrition counseling through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Autumn cares about improving individuals' lives one healthy choice at a time.
Referenced Sources
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/understanding-and-improving-core-strength-2018090414662
https://www.acefitness.org/fitness-certifications/ace-answers/exam-preparation-blog/3562/core-anatomy-muscles-of-the-core/