Yoga Exercises To Strengthen The Core
When someone talks about core strengthening, the first image that may flash in the head is of a well-toned fitness enthusiast with at least a six pack and the ability to do hundreds of crunches and push-ups in an hour. At least, this was the image that used to flash in my head and often times sent it reeling!
But after practising and teaching yoga for a few years, I am beginning to understand what core strengthening truly stands for and its significance in improving overall health. The core is literally the centre of our body and not just the six pack abs that we can obviously see. It is the group of muscles that support our entire spine and extend to our back, buttocks, sides, and pelvis.
The front of the abdomen is just a superficial aspect of the core. Muscles that run along the sides of our abdomen as well as deeper and lower abdomen, lower back and spinal muscles are extremely crucial in giving stability and support to the spine. Simply put, a strong core leads to a strong and stable spine allowing us to stay steady, centered and balanced.
But that is not all. Working on strengthening the core invariably leads us to pay attention to our digestive system too. It is interesting to note that all the yogic postures and movements that fortify the core also nourish our digestive system and gut, allowing us to assimilate and process energy in a better way.
Often times our abdominals are weak because we are now accustomed to sitting for extended durations. Under the pretext of comfort, we sit in an unhealthy manner sinking our ab muscles into the chair or couch. This leads to lack of core engagement, slouching and bad posture for the whole spine.
READ ALSO: Make Any Activity Yogic With Proper Breathing
Why do you think yoga emphasizes so much on sitting cross-legged on the floor? For example, sitting in Sukhasana (easy pose) is one of the best and simplest ways to start engaging and strengthening core. This and more are detailed in my new core strengthening video where I take you through a 20-min sequence, starting slowly and gradually building intensity and heat.
This sequence is accessible to all levels and each of the postures and dynamic movements can be done longer if you have more time in the day. If not, at least a 20-min workout each morning will keep you fresh and the metabolic activity going throughout the day.
