Core strength and stability is fundamental when practicing Pilates, but what exactly is it?
The core serves as a muscular corset that works as a unit to stabilize the body and spine with and without limb movement. The muscle groups that encircle your torso from your lower rib cage to below your belt line (abs, lower back, hips and glutes) are refered to by Pilates devotees as the body’s core or ‘powerhouse’.
Find your core
To find your core, stand with feet hip width apart and try pulling in your navel toward your spine, draw the sides of your torso centre and stand tall with the crown of your head lifted. Hold that position, inhale, then exhale slowly through your mouth as if blowing through a straw. As you exhale, press your navel to your spine, without tucking your pelvis under and glutes relaxed.Continue to press your navel towards your spine until there is no air left to exhale. If you hold that contraction and breathe normally you should feel a tautness through your middle.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A STRONG CORE?
Building a strong core provides many benefits including:
- Prevention of musculoskeletal injuries and chronic low back pain
- Improved balance and stability - beneficial for anyone who regularly lifts heavy weights
- Improved posture
- Improves digestive problems, poor circulation and fluid retention
- Correction of body alignment, which eases joint pain
WHY CHOOSE PILATES TO BUILD A STRONG CORE?
Pilates is a holistic exercise system designed to elongate, strengthen and restore the body to balance; so much more than just building a ‘strong core’ or ‘perfect posture’.
Pilates is effective because it addresses underlying structural imbalances in the body which can create on-going pain and difficulty with movement. The whole body is considered. Lengthened and strengthened muscles improve posture and overall fitness and retrain dysfunctional movement patterns, restoring optimum physical function. Practicing Pilates regularly can provide a heightened sense of awareness and ease within your body, also experiencing less pain and increased mobility. This freedom ultimately leads to increased satisfaction in life!
