If you are picturing a flat belly or six-pack abs when you hear core strength, then it’s time we changed your perspective. Core strength is more than just the look of your muscles. In this post we will explain to you what makes up core muscles and how you can benefit from building and maintaining your core!

First of all, what are core muscles?

The core musculature includes rectus abdominis, internal and external obliques, erector spinae, and pelvic floor muscles. It forms the central link between your upper and lower body and is responsible for maintaining the stability of the spine and pelvis. The core muscles are crucial for the transfer of energy from the larger to smaller body parts and, as you can imagine, play a huge role when it comes to sports. It is not only during sports but also during everyday movements that you use your core muscles!

How can you benefit from a strong core?

Think of your core as a muscular corset that stabilizes your entire body, helping to give you a center of gravity whether you’re at rest or moving.

1. Alleviates Back Pain By strengthening the muscles that support the spine, you are helping to take the pressure off of the spine. A strong core can help you maintain a healthy back. Core-strengthening exercises and core-engaging workouts, like yoga and Pilates, can help reduce discomfort and improve mobility.
2. Improves Posture No doubt having a weak core can lead to slouching. Especially if you sit at a desk all day, you tend to make a rounded back. To counteract this, you should try to use a gym ball to sit on during work. Sitting on a stability ball requires active engagement of the core muscles since you don’t have any back support. But beware while this position can be good for improving your posture and core stability, as soon as you relax, your posture suffers, which can ultimately lead to aches and pain.
3. Improve balance, coordination, and brainpower As the back and abdominal area become stronger, the body’s balance and coordination also improve. When you do core exercises it stimulates a particular area in the brain called the cerebellum which affects coordination, spatial awareness, and balance. These exercises are not only a workout for your body but also your brain.

So How can Velocity help you to gain a stronger core?

A Power class ensures you use an enormous amount of muscle fiber. All exercises performed on the X-Former use the abdominal core muscles and their stability in order not to lose balance on the moving platform and to master all the slow and small movements. Power helps to improve your posture and alignment as well as balance and coordination. Since you’re on a machine that moves, your body engages muscles for balance and uses all of its coordination to perform the exercise and remain stable.

Now it’s time to work on your core strength! Try a Power class and let us know if you feel any different after 15-20 classes