How and Why You Need to Strengthen Your Core Muscles

It is important to strengthen your core muscles for many reasons. At its most basic, your core strength comes into play in everyday activities such as lifting your groceries and vacuuming your house. Your core is your center of balance and strength for almost everything you do, especially when it comes to exercise and getting in shape. Here are 6 exercises to help you strengthen your core muscles.

6 Great Exercises for Your Core

These exercises below will not only help you to strengthen your core muscles but they will also help you tone your abdominal muscles, back, butt, and thighs. Even better, these exercises can all be done from home so there is no gym membership required.

1. Yoga and Pilates

Yoga and pilates type exercises are the most popular exercises for your core. You can findyoga videos and pilates videos online, on DVD, or even learn poses from books and magazines. These are easy to do from home and most routines do not even require any sort of equipment.

2. Planking

Planks are another great exercise to strengthen core muscles. You might find them difficult in the beginning, but you will find it easier over time. Planking is great for the whole body, from your arms all the way down through your legs, and is actually considered as being a better exercise for your abs than crunches.

3. Balance Ball

Using a balance ball helps you to focus on your core muscles when doing certain exercises. You can use a Balance Ball to do push-ups, crunches, and more. Even simply sitting on a balance ball instead of a chair helps you strengthen your core muscles during the day.

4. V-sit

Sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Lean back to a 45 degree angle and hold your arms out straight beside you. Slowly lift your feet off the ground, using your core to keep yourself steady. Extend your legs out so that your body forms a “V”. Hold this position as long as possible, using your extended arms to help maintain your balance.

5. Tucks

Start in the same position as the v-sit, leaning back at the 45 degree angle and arms straight out beside you. Extend your legs out just like in the v-sit, but then bring them back to your body, not resting them on the floor. Repeat this motion ten times, rest, and then repeat.

6. Bicycles

Starting in crunch position with your hands behind your ears, reach your elbow to the opposite knee, extending the other leg out. Repeat the motion, alternating sides, and working your legs as if riding a bicycle. Continue the motion for an extended period of time, at least 30 seconds, before resting and then repeating.