Core Strengthening Exercises: Your Back Will Love These
Core stability and core strengthening exercises are a much overlooked, but vital, part of a comprehensive workout routine and back health maintenance.
Every day, our daily activities are filled with all kinds of abuses to our back. We twist, turn, bend, pick up things incorrectly. Most of us spend almost all day sitting for our jobs. In order for our core muscles to adequately support our back and internal organs, they have to be in pretty good shape. As soon as we start to get lax in our efforts to stay in shape, our back begins to "talk" to us. Bending over becomes a chore, we hurt all the time, and life becomes more and more miserable.
And our workout routines become ever more risky; we always are on the edge of straining our back.
OK, then, what are some really good core strengthening exercises to do?
* Pilates. You can do any Pilates workout and you will come out ahead. I've used Pilates for years to keep the old middle tight and strong. Pilates has a sort of "girls only" reputation for some reason, but take it from me, guys; this is serious exercise.
* The Farmer's Walk. This is really a whole body exercise, but your core will work real hard, as will your back, legs, arms and hands. Just go pick up two very heavy dumbbells, and carry them over to the other side of the room and back again. Maybe another time. Your core will work overtime to keep you balanced and stable.
* The Wood Chopper. Grab a medicine ball. Hold it over your head and off to one side. Now swing it down and over toward your opposite foot, like you were chopping wood. Then swing it back on the same line. Repeat several times, and switch sides. Be sure to engage your hips and legs to keep your back fairly straight. That makes it harder.
* Saxon Bends. These are tough. Take that ball again, or a weight plate if you need more weight, and hold it over your head. Now bend over to one side, without bending your back from front to back. You're just going side to side. When you've gone as far over as you can, head on over to the other side. Back to center again is one.
These exercises are a great warmup for a weight training workout. They'll warm up the whole body, and you can step away from the treadmill. Or, just devote a whole workout to core strengthening exercises; your back will thank you! - 17269
Every day, our daily activities are filled with all kinds of abuses to our back. We twist, turn, bend, pick up things incorrectly. Most of us spend almost all day sitting for our jobs. In order for our core muscles to adequately support our back and internal organs, they have to be in pretty good shape. As soon as we start to get lax in our efforts to stay in shape, our back begins to "talk" to us. Bending over becomes a chore, we hurt all the time, and life becomes more and more miserable.
And our workout routines become ever more risky; we always are on the edge of straining our back.
OK, then, what are some really good core strengthening exercises to do?
* Pilates. You can do any Pilates workout and you will come out ahead. I've used Pilates for years to keep the old middle tight and strong. Pilates has a sort of "girls only" reputation for some reason, but take it from me, guys; this is serious exercise.
* The Farmer's Walk. This is really a whole body exercise, but your core will work real hard, as will your back, legs, arms and hands. Just go pick up two very heavy dumbbells, and carry them over to the other side of the room and back again. Maybe another time. Your core will work overtime to keep you balanced and stable.
* The Wood Chopper. Grab a medicine ball. Hold it over your head and off to one side. Now swing it down and over toward your opposite foot, like you were chopping wood. Then swing it back on the same line. Repeat several times, and switch sides. Be sure to engage your hips and legs to keep your back fairly straight. That makes it harder.
* Saxon Bends. These are tough. Take that ball again, or a weight plate if you need more weight, and hold it over your head. Now bend over to one side, without bending your back from front to back. You're just going side to side. When you've gone as far over as you can, head on over to the other side. Back to center again is one.
These exercises are a great warmup for a weight training workout. They'll warm up the whole body, and you can step away from the treadmill. Or, just devote a whole workout to core strengthening exercises; your back will thank you! - 17269
About the Author:
Eryk Helms is resolved to living a healthy and fit lifestyle, and nudging others along the path as well. His Core Strengthening Exercises site has lots of great resources for improving core stability, and for a limited time you can get a free copy of "Perfect Posture In 30 Days" by visiting http://www.squidoo.com/core-strengthening-exercises.
posted by X - Men at
12:02 PM
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