Core Workout

It all comes from the Core

The fitness industry is unlike any other when it comes to fads and fashions. It’s always looking for the next big thing or gadget that will help you lose those unwanted pounds with as little effort as possible! And ‘The Core’ is the latest buzz term out there. As always when a new fad comes about everybody jumps on the bandwagon to try and cash in. This has lead to a huge amount of mis-understanding amongst many as to what the core exactly is and the benefits from training it.

So what exactly is the core?

The core is the link between your upper body and your lower body. Every movement you make starts from the core. The core is made up of the muscles and tissues that surround your mid section. When used properly they can help stabilise the spine providing a strong foundation for all the movements you make. This stabilisation is like a natural corset for your body.

So why should I train the core?

The core is like the foundations of a house. If the foundations are weak then the house is not too strong. So when people train the extremities of the body (arms and legs) without being able to use the core it is like building an extension onto the top floor of that house with weak foundations, not good!

Firming up the mid-section

One of the most important muscles of the core lies underneath the ‘six pack’ muscle and wraps around your midsection like a belt (called the transverse abdominis). And just like a belt, when you tighten it up, it provides stabilisation and holds everything in. It is exactly the same with this muscle, when it is tight it will help stabilise your spine and also help pull in that dreaded lower abdominal pouch! Due to our increasingly sedentary lifestyles (and overuse of the fixed machine weights in the gym) this muscle loosens due to lack of use leading to decreased stability of the spine and eventually letting everything hang out!

Back pain

Back pain can be attributed to many different things. But a great place to start is to train the muscles and tissues that help stabilise the back. And as mentioned, appropriate training of the core can help do this. When strengthened, these muscles can give the spine great support. This really helps reduce the chance of incurring an injury when performing everyday tasks such as lifting heavy objects or turning suddenly. It will also help you to recover from current aches and pains. The body has remarkable healing properties, and when given the chance will always right itself. This powerful training has helped many people wake up feeling pain free for the first time in years.

Sporting performance and injuries

Did you know that the cause of many injuries can be traced back to weak core muscles? Just like the house with weak foundations; with a weak core the outer extremities (legs and arms) do not have a stable base to work from therefore are susceptible to injury. Have you ever had an injury fixed that just kept coming back? Usually treating the symptom is not the answer; you need to find the cause!

So this also means, if the core is weak then the body is not performing anywhere near its full potential. Here at Alpha Performance & Wellbeing core training is not a subject taken lightly. With appropriate exercises you can realise your full potential, power over your opponents and take your game to the next level!