From yoga to Pilates to more general workouts, the call for core strength is ubiquitous.
As a yoga teacher, I constantly need to remind students to engage their core. It’s not about shame or even strength—it’s the knowledge that an activated core will deliver support and improved alignment while alleviating potential pain.
Why Core Strength Is Essential
When contracted, the muscles of your core support the spine, help you maintain proper posture, and reduce your risk of injury. Many people think the “core” refers to only the superficial abdominal muscles, but your core muscles extend from the diaphragm to the pelvic floor and surround the trunk in a 360-degree fashion. That includes all of the abdominal muscles (rectus abdominis, internal and external obliques, and deep transversus abdominus) as well as those of the hips, glutes, and lower back (including the erector spinae and multifidus).
That’s a lot of support. If you’re not properly activating your core, or if you lack sufficient strength in your muscles, you’re at a disadvantage.
Given the complexity of the primary and supportive…
