What is your idea of being fit? Do you want to see 26-mile marathon runners pounding the pavement? A gymnast gets a flawless “10” on a floor routine? In the gym, they’re lifting twice their bodyweight?
Fitness can mean different things to different people, but it generally relates to your ability to perform physical tasks rapidly. Running a 5K, lugging large grocery bags into your house, and even playing 18 holes of golf without being exhausted or out of breath — or waking up injured and sore the next day — are all examples of this.
Your core is the cornerstone of good fitness. The durability and flexibility of your core muscles affect your ability to do nearly every movement on a daily basis, including getting out of bed, working at a desk, and walking your dog.
The core of your body is the foundation for physical activity. When the muscles that make up your center are strong, it is easier to move around and have more strength and power in your mobility. From getting up from a seated posture to jogging and stretching to backhand a tennis ball back at your opponent, abdominal muscles can assist you. A strong core is essential for stability and might help you avoid falling.
It means you’re more equipped to carry out tasks that require you to stretch, reach, and extend your body. Have you ever painted your home’s interior? While you bend and stoop to reach the trim, use a roller to smooth paint in an up-and-down motion, and stretch to reach the highest nooks of your space, your core stabilizes and supports you.
The following resource lists many more reasons to strengthen your core, as well as five fundamental exercises to help you do so.
The following resource lists many more reasons to strengthen your core, as well as five fundamental exercises to help you do so.