You’ll need to train your core your whole life, you know? – GOOD SHAPE

Whether in a crossfit workout, whether in yoga, whether in pilates, you must have heard about the core: the region that encompasses the muscles of the lumbar, pelvis, abdominals, perineum and hips. And, believe me, not only is the core a darling of physical practices, but you might have to exercise it… forever!

WHAT IS CORE?

“Core means center”, begins Dayane Giacomazzi, personal trainer founder of D-GYM, a 100% digital gym, partner and linked to Gympass. “A lot of people think that the core is just the abdomen, but the core is the junction of the abdominal structures, quadratus lumborum, glutes and pelvic floor.”

This group is responsible for sustaining the body, and is made up of several important muscles that help in this function – there are 29 pairs of muscles, to be exact. That is why, according to personal, it is so important to train this region, especially when dealing with issues such as back painson the knees and hips.

“Understanding the core and adding it to our practice of physical activity can prevent injuries, improve performance and the longevity of our activity in general”, he says.

WHY IS CORE TRAINING IMPORTANT?

When we talk about the need to train the core for life, we are not exaggerating that much. When we consider that this region guarantees the support of the body, this means that a strengthened core can preserve mobility in old age, for example.

“I consider core training smart training for your body. In the functional area, for example, core exercises work a lot because they integrate the whole body”, continues the personal.

Let’s take a closer look at some benefits of a stronger core:

1

improves posture

A strong core is essential for a better postureincluding avoiding back and neck pain, very common for people who spend a lot of time at the computer.

two

Improves balance

Although we walk with our legs, our strength base is our core. This means that a stronger core also improves our balance, as we have a more solid foundation. In practice, this means that we will recover faster from trips, walk with more stability and even get up from a sitting posture more easily.

3

Protects the organs

That’s right. Not only from cracked abs does the strengthened core live. As these muscles are also responsible for protecting some of the body’s main organs, such as the kidneys and the liver, when they are stronger this protective barrier is also strengthened, preventing these organs from being affected by external causes or trauma.

4

Makes the day easier

As the core is our main movement base, when this region is strengthened, our movement becomes easier and more fluid. That is, day-to-day activities become easier, be it getting up from your desk to go to a meeting, taking public transport or cooking lunch.

5

benefits aging

if you search age well, so core training is essential. Considering the mobility and strength benefits, it is vital to maintain the body’s functionality (and avoid injuries and other problems) that are common in old age.

WHAT TO PRIORITIZE IN CORE TRAINING?

The core is a musculature base of deep muscles, the so-called stabilizer muscles. That is, working them depends on specific exercises that reach this deeper musculature.

“We can work the core along with other training and exercises, or in isolation, like the plank, in which there is a great activation of the abdomen”, explains Dayane. “When we lock the gluteus and contract the pelvic floor during the plank, the core work will be even more complete. Another example of an exercise is the bridge – hip lift work – which has a greater focus on working the glutes and a little bit of the abs.”

Want more tips? So, click on the links below to learn about exercises that work (very well!) the region: