Did you know every move you make originates in your core?
This is why having a strong core is essential for everything from preventing chronic lower back pain to having the best posture in town.
Imagine your body is a house and your core is the foundation. As with any house, you want it to be built on a really strong foundation.
Unfortunately our typically sedentary, 21st-century lifestyle, along with childbirth, means most women have a weak core — and many of us also have no idea how to activate it.
This can lead to poor posture, back pain and bladder-control issues.
In other words, a shoddy foundation.
Finding your core
First, it's important to understand what the core actually is. When most people think of their core, they imagine a cover model’s washboard six-pack. That muscle is actually your rectus abdominis (or abs) — the outer layer of muscle that’s also sometimes referred to as the superficial core.
Your deep core is made up of five muscles that lie below your abs and wrap around your midsection like a corset, connecting to your spine.
These muscles are your transverse abdominis, multifidus, internal obliques, pelvic floor and diaphragm. They work together to stabilise your lumbar spine, also known as the lower back.
The challenge for people with a weak deep core is learning to activate those five muscles without using their abdominals. The good news is that you can learn to activate and strengthen your deep core.
Here are four exercises to get you started: