Your core is the most important part of your body in the sense that it’s the one you have to be most careful about. If you were to train incorrectly, you could seriously injure yourself. That’s is why it’s important you maintain posture and choose the right exercises.
Take care of yourself
There are many positions we are used to, and widely believed to be positive for us. But that’s not always true, especially if you have any type of problem with your neck, back, etc.
However risky it may be, training your core is a must, and when done correctly it has many benefits for your health. You’ll be able to improve your balance, prevent possible injuries, heal specific aches, breathe better and protect your organs. What’s not to like? You do need to learn to do it correctly. There are 3 exercises that should be your base.
The plank
This one is probably the most common core exercise, and yet the most effective one if what you want is strengthening up your core. More specifically, this exercise targets the muscles in your hips, back, shoulders, neck and your lateral and frontal abs. It’s a pretty complete exercise, don’t you think?
It’s a similar position to when you’re doing a press-up, but instead fold your arms and let your under-arm rest on the ground. Hold this position for half a minute, and then rest for the same amount of time. However, you can increase time as you go, if you feel like 30 seconds isn’t enough anymore.
The side-plank
This exercise is extremely similar to the previous one. However, you place yourself sideways, and you only have one support spot. You use one arm to keep you up, and all of your weight is placed on the side of your body. This exercise allows you to work on your obliques and the lower part of your back. Carry it out for the same time as the previous exercise, but don’t forget to change position to also target the other side.
Dog-bird
For this exercise, you should place yourself in a dog-like position. Both knees and hands on the floor. Then, you extend one arm, and at the same time one leg, in opposite directions. Let’s say you hold up your right arm, then you hold up your left leg at the same time. This exercise proves your balance, so bear in mind to be careful the first couple of times you carry it out. Try to do 16 repetitions each side.
Images: Unsplash and Instagram