'way too technical'!
and I proceeded to delete what was the best part of a days work.
Lets start with understanding what the core is.
Your core is the group of muscles that helps stabilise the torso, through every movement we make, this includes breathing, and standing.
It encompasses so many more muscles than your abs, but also includes them.
I find it helps to think of your core like a corset holding everything in.
the important thing about it is if it is not activated correctly then I have other muscles in my body doing its job, and if they are too busy doing the cores job then they are unable to perform their own job properly - this leads to injury.
As a trainer I use the following cues to help clients engage their core
- belly button in towards the spine
- pelvic floor in and up.
To build on this idea at the Good to Go training studio we also have what we call 'set position', which is the following
- feet hip to shoulder width apart
- knees soft or off lock
- pelvic floor on
- belly button in towards the spine
- shoulder blades in and down (set in position towards the rib cage)
- bottom of the sternum up at angle towards the roof
- chin dropped slightly.
We use 'set position' as a starter for most of our exercises, it puts the body in correct posture so that your muscles can do their job.
And as with most things to do with the body, it is that simple but so much more complicated.
One of the biggest things about having a good core that I think most people miss is that, OK so you now how to turn on your core, but how often do you do it?
It has been my experience that most people (including me) do it when told by your trainer, and then in the next movement it gets turned off and not turned on again until someone reminds you again.
BUT!
To build a strong core you also need to build good core habits this means having your core on in everything you do from sitting at the computer to walking the dog to picking the kids up to brushing your teeth.
Everything!!!
Not just when you're planking at the gym.
And how do we build a habit?
the first thing is to decide that you are going to do this, then make sure you set yourself reminders every day.
What ever works for you.
For some people it may work to set an alarm.
Write it on post it notes and put it around the house
but catch your self more and more often and keep reminding yourself until it becomes a habit, until it becomes a natural way of being for you.
There you have it, short and sweet.
CORE ON PEOPLE!
One of the biggest things about having a good core that I think most people miss is that, OK so you now how to turn on your core, but how often do you do it?
It has been my experience that most people (including me) do it when told by your trainer, and then in the next movement it gets turned off and not turned on again until someone reminds you again.
BUT!
To build a strong core you also need to build good core habits this means having your core on in everything you do from sitting at the computer to walking the dog to picking the kids up to brushing your teeth.
Everything!!!
Not just when you're planking at the gym.
And how do we build a habit?
the first thing is to decide that you are going to do this, then make sure you set yourself reminders every day.
What ever works for you.
For some people it may work to set an alarm.
Write it on post it notes and put it around the house
but catch your self more and more often and keep reminding yourself until it becomes a habit, until it becomes a natural way of being for you.
There you have it, short and sweet.
CORE ON PEOPLE!
