Core Strength Exercises
There are so many approaches to core strength exercises that, if you vary your training, you’ll never get bored! One of the best things about taking an approach that explores different types of core workouts is that you’ll get better results by strengthening many muscles in different ways.
Though a lot of people think of yoga as purely stretching, or some gentle movement that only women do, it’s a whole lot more than that. Some types of yoga are super challenging, and offer excellent and effective ways to strengthen and stretch at the same time. In my Kamloops Fitness Boot Camp, Yoga is a key element in staying aligned and adding a dynamic that helps the body stay happy and lean.
An advantage to doing an alignment focused yoga based core workout is training your muscles to support your body in a balanced way. For instance, when you align your shoulders optimally and workout in that alignment, it strengthens the muscles on all sides of the shoulder more equally, rather than the front of the shoulder getting tighter and creating problems in the shoulder and neck.
When you work on aligned strength and flexibility in yoga it helps you have more precise alignment when you’re lifting weights or doing squats, which can lead to less risk of injury.
Yoga Core Strength Exercises Video
This video shows a short but powerful sequence of exercises that cover the entire body with a focus on the stabilizing core muscles. Sure, that refers to your abs and back, but also uses aligned full body postures that also engage the stabilizing muscles in your shoulders and arms, legs and hips.
As you’re watching, notice the precision offered by the alignment in each pose. It’s the secret to avoiding injury and getting the most out of your workout.
The alignment is informed by the Universal Principles of Alignment™ of Anusara® yoga. This system is highly respected as an extremely effective way to create optimal circulation and overall health.
**At no time should you be in acute pain when doing yoga.**
If you feel pain, in yoga or otherwise in life, your body is telling you that something is out of alignment and asking you to back off and re-align so that it is more supported. The difference between pain and the sensation you feel in a stretch is that acute pain will be sharp and generally in one specific spot, while discomfort in an intense stretch will spread more evenly over an area.
If you want a list of the exercises with photos and alignment cues, I’ve posted these on my hub Yoga Core Strength Exercises. It’s nice to refer to if you have questions, though the video goes over the alignment in good detail.
To get a more comprehensive understanding with this powerful alignment and discover how it can help you perform your best and avoid injury in the gym and other activities, find an Anusara yoga instructor near you. How? Just check the teacher directory at Anusara’s website.
Strengthening Your Full Core
Taking care of your body physically is crucial to being happy and feeling health. At the same time, there’s more to you than your body and it’s important to take a look at your tendencies in order to find full balance and peace of mind.
For instance, if you’re super dedicated to working out, but don’t give much attention to the inner core of your mind, emotional and spiritual self, then you’re missing out on the fullness of living in balance and the truest definition of strength.
Think about it – when you think of someone who is truly strong in every way, they are even tempered, kind, and grounded in their own truth.
So what do you do to balance your focuses? Am I suggesting you crawl into a cave and meditate for a few years to make up for all that time you’ve been working out? Of course not.
You can start with 5 or 10 minutes a day and you’ll notice the difference right away.
Meditation and yoga have been proven in study after study for their ability to influence and completely change the state of the body, mind and emotions.
Personally, my meditation and yoga practices aren’t just for me, they are a service for others as well because I’m way more centered and can stay kind and calm in challenging situations. It keeps me sane in this chaotic world of ours.
If you’re still skeptical about meditation, do a little scientific experiment of your own. Give it a try for two weeks, or even just one week, and see what happens.
The Importance of Variety
Because of the amazing complexity of the body, it’s key to have a lot of variety in your exercise routine.
By incorporating these core strength exercises and other yoga, plus any different activities you’re interested it, you give yourself a well rounded approach to health and fitness.
Your body wants you to expand your capacity; to think, feel, work and play in many different ways. When you do this you continue to evolve and can enjoy life to the fullest!
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