All of our carefully programmed workouts at Capacity Fit are designed to improve overall fitness and strength in a way that mimics everyday movements. One key component of functional fitness is training the core muscles. The core muscles, which include the muscles of the abdomen, lower back, and hips, play a critical role in maintaining stability and balance in the body. Having a strong core can help prevent injury, improve posture, and increase overall fitness and strength — it’s like the foundation when building a home from the ground up!
The core muscles are responsible for maintaining stability and balance in the body. This is important for functional fitness exercises, such as lifting weights, running, and performing bodyweight exercises. A strong core allows for better control of movement, which can improve exercise form and reduce the risk of injury. Additionally, a strong core can help improve posture, which can have a positive impact on overall health and well-being. For those of us that spend hours each day sitting down at a desk, developing a stronger core is essential not only to feel good right now, but to prevent degenerative injuries and chronic back pain as we grow older.
Your core muscles also play a key role in power and explosiveness! This is the fun stuff and what motivates a lot of us to focus on building a strong set of core muscles. For example, the muscles of the core are heavily involved in movements such as box jumps, deadlifts, and running. A strong core can make our challenging workouts even more effective, and even help us weekend warriors stay healthy when we’re rounding the bases in kickball or running for a softball fly ball.
How can you start training your core? Some of the most effective exercises include planks, Russian twists, and dead bugs. These exercises target the muscles of the abdomen, lower back, and hips, and can be easily incorporated into any fitness routine. They require zero weights or investment, aside from your time and focus. Other key functional movements, such as squats and deadlifts, also work the core muscles while targeting other muscle groups. These are more advanced movements that are impossible to perform correctly and pain-free without the support of a strong, active set of core group muscles.
In conclusion, the core is a vital component of functional fitness exercises. A strong core can help prevent injury, improve posture, and increase overall fitness and strength. Incorporating core training into your fitness routine can help you achieve your fitness goals and improve your overall health and well-being. Remember, a strong core is the foundation of functional fitness, so make sure to include core exercises in your workout routine.
Whether you’re at Capacity or on the road for work or a vacation, working your core is always an option that can be worked into your fitness plan. If you’re not already setting aside time to focus on these muscles, you should start today! Don’t let a lack of previous experience or effort deter you from starting. Spending 10-15min. focusing on strengthening your core really adds up over time, but you’ll never get there if you don’t take a step today towards a stronger, healthier core.
What are you waiting for?!
Make the commitment to start your core training journey today and click here to meet with us!