Core: What does it really mean?

Wether you are an elite athlete or a gym rat; in all the years of working with clients I still find that almost everyone still doesn’t really know how to engage their core. More importantly they don’t even know why it is so important or what muscles should be engaged for the core to work properly.

First, our core is what creates stabilization and balance for our spine and pelvis. Energetically it is also where our “Chi” or life force is stored. Beyond energy and strength, a strong core holds in our organs, makes for increased sexual pleasure and longevity and decreases prostate and uterine issues. Which boils down to our core “runs the show” when it comes to our bodies performing and functioning optimally. Not something to take lightly, eh?

Go beyond the superficial layers of the abdominals where your 6 pack lies and you will find the obliques, iliacus, kegels and psoas muscles that are all intricate parts of your core. Even though these muscles are viscerally deeper they need to be engaged and worked so that your body can truly be strong and stable.

Now you might know great “core” exercises, however if you don’t know how to truly engage your core and breathe with it engaged, your merely scratching the surface.

Our bodies are set up like trees. Our “trunk” is our core. And our “limbs” are our attachments; legs, arms and head. If our “trunk” is not stable and strong, our “limbs” take on the weight of the world. Hence why we have chronic low back, neck, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle injuries to name a few.

Exercise:

Now that you have deeper insight to your core, lets start with the fundamental basic exercise to get you started.

Sit on a stool, chair or exercise ball with your feet in front of you on the planted on the floor. Your feet should be slightly wider than your shoulders and your toes should be in front of your knees. Your spine should be upright so that you are sitting on top of your SITS bones or what most people call our “butt bones.” You might feel like your falling backwards. Plant your feet into the ground and pretend you have a string through the top of your head. Continue to ground through your feet and gently “pull your string” through the top of your head. This is what we call a “tripod” position.

Now inhale through your belly, as though you have a pooh bear tummy and on the exhale pull the breath back through the abdominals and continue to pull it through your spine. It should feel as though I have a string attached to your belly button and I am pulling it slowly through your body and out through the back of your spine.

Continue to sit in your tripod position and breathe. You should feel your body deeply attempting to strengthen and stabilize. You might feel slightly dizzy or off balance.

This is natural when beginning to connect to your body on this deeper level. Be patient and continue to work with this exercise, it will come quickly to you if you stay patient and consistent.

Get this and more on our video’s page. See our whole foundation sequence and become Phenomenally Phit™ today!

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