Athletes, trainers and coaches all over now understand that training and working hard at a discipline may mean nothing, if an athlete has not worked on strengthening the core of the body, on improving the core strength and muscle power of that region of the body.
The abdominal muscles, the hip muscles and the spine muscles form the core of the body, upon which the optimum functioning, stamina and overall ability of the body depends. It is these groups of muscles that the body depends upon for stability and it is from the core that the body derives its power to perform.
It isn’t abdominal exercises only that will help you work on your core strength; there are many more aspects to developing core strength. So concentrating on getting that six-pack won’t ensure core strength. You need to target a larger area.
If using equipment, use free weights like medicine balls, dumbbells, balance boards or wobble boards, stability balls and kettle-bells. There are several ways to develop core strength using nothing more than your body.
Abdominal bracing can be a little tricky to learn however with a little practice, you can do it, so long as you concentrate on even breathing and it can be very effective in developing core strength.
Push ups, squats, hip lifts, lunges, back extensions, Russian twists are all extremely helpful in developing strength, endurance and stamina.
To improve core strength, the aim should be to increase stamina and endurance, which may often take the form of unconventional exercise or disciplines: Yoga, which is seen to greatly improve flexibility and suppleness of the body, is seen to be great for improving core strength. Yoga is useful for centering and its meditative qualities also offer people mental relaxation which goes a long way in improving concentration.
The ancient discipline of Pranayam, which is related to yoga, is also useful for developing core strength, because the accent is on breathing in pranayam. For instance the Kapaal Bharti Pranayam concentrates on the strengthening the stomach muscles and has been described as an internal massage for the body’s organs.
Pilates is another discipline that is seen as being extremely useful in the improving core strength, because Pilates is all about balance. The graceful, precise movements of the pilate exercises ensure that the ability of the individual to center and to focus improves.
