A Strong Core is the Best Place to Start

Any time an athlete or model shows off his or her abdominal “six pack,” all eyes are on them. Having a strong, muscular mid-section is not only attractive, but beneficial both in future workouts and just day to day activities.

The core of the human body, which generally means not only the abdominals, but the side and lower back muscles as well. All these work together as a core unit, improving things like running, jumping, climbing, and any mundane task that require stabilization (like not slipping on a wet floor or ice, for example). Strengthening the mid-section can also mean lessoning lower back pain or weakness, while also improving posture and general mobility. A strong core might even help develop better breathing while conditioning.

There are a multitude of ways to increase the core. While many still rely on old faithfuls like sit-ups or crunches, newer research points toward exercises that challenge upper and lower abs to work together, possibly with other muscle groups from the core as well. Many look to “instability” such a balance boards, Bosu balls, or suspension trainers. Some also look toward yoga poses, especially ones like the inclined plane or the sphinx.

However, an entire workout regimen that seems to focus on the development of the core is Pilates, a class that often (but does not always) use a padded platform “reformer” to increase the core for balance and posture, as well as overall strength and flexibility. Originally created to help veterans recovery from injuries, it was quickly adopted by ballet dancers and later the San Francisco 49ers football team, all of whom require the strongest core to be most efficient at what they do.

A Pilates studio in Queens is a great place to start developing a better core. Though a six pack won’t be easy to come by, the balance and long-term physical benefits will start to appear shortly after starting a regular routine. Pilates asks participants not to do large numbers of repetitions of each activity, but instead to do each activity with more perfection each time. Some mat-based pilates activities are the pilates curl, hundreds, roll up, single-leg stretch, and even double-leg kicks. To learn more about these and other Pilates workouts, find a Pilates studio in Brooklyn.