WHAT IS YOUR CORE?
If your first answer is the ‘abs” then we need to drop a knowledge bomb…
YOUR ABS AREN’T YOUR CORE!
Apart from the superficial core muscles; mainly rectus abdominals (front), obliques (sides) and erector spinae (back), there are some more layers of muscles which reformer pilates helps to strengthen. Your DEEP CORE MUSCLES!
Your deep core is your entire mid-section and is mainly made up of your:
- Diaphragm (top)
- Pelvic floor (bottom)
- Transverse Abdominis (all around as a corset)
- Multifidus (back)
connecting your hips, pelvis, spine, and ribs together. When these muscles work together harmoniously, you’ll have a stable and powerful base to support your movements!
Your deep CORE muscles are the foundation of your body and they play a crucial role in everything you do, from sitting, bending forward and standing up straight to performing complex moves.
Like any muscle, a core muscle’s job is to:
shorten (contract) – think of your lower back shortening to stand up,
lengthen (relax ) – think of lower back muscles relaxing so you can bend forward towards the ground and
stabilise (think of lower back muscles holding tension, so the spine is still during a squat.)
How do you know if your core has lost function and needs work?
If any movement like sitting, standing, bending forward, twisting, lunging, squatting, or walking feels ‘off, painful, stiff, limited, or ‘unsafe, that’s a sign that your core has lost its ability to function properly in alignment and coordination.
So, how do you train your core?
By joining us on the Reformer! 😄
“The real magic of core strength is not when you can plank for 5 minutes. It is when you can lift your baby with the car seat and not bulge through your abdomen, hurt your back or pee your pants” Thinkbeyondpain
