Do you know what your core is? Did you know that it’s more than just your ‘Abs’?
Infact your core is everything bar your head, arms and legs!
It is the thick layered musculature of the torso consisting of the abdominals, obliques, transverse abdominis, multifidus, diaphragm, pelvic floor, and many other deeper muscles.
All this meaty muscle protects our internal organs and the precious spinal Column.
So if you’ve ever had, or currently got, a ‘bad back’ it’s time to strengthen that core!
You can spend a lot of money on chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists but at some point you may well find or be advised that it’s a lot cheaper and far more satisfying to create some ‘in house’ protection of your own.

Building the deep internal muscles in your torso, not only helps prevent back problems but makes you stronger overall, helps you move more efficiently and promotes longevity of your general wellbeing. So how do you do it? Well it’s not all about crunches that’s for sure, you need to get a good all round (literally) work out, that targets all those muscles mentioned earlier, working them in all three planes of motion.
One great way of doing this is known as Functional Training, a dynamic type of exercising that as the name suggests, helps you to be more functional in your every day life, making you less likely to bulge a disc while doing the vacuum cleaning – anybody?

As a Pilates teacher as well as a PT, I’m bound to promote Pilates as a great way to build your core, infact Pilates’ primary principle is about developing the ‘power house’ the centre of the body which, when strengthened is the foundation for all movement. Breathing techniques compliment the movements in Pilates making it a very precise and controlled form of exercise, perfect if you’re already suffering and great prevention insurance if you’re enjoying good back health.
So people, learn how to engage your core – its key!

– This Article has been published in the July edition of Life Magazine – http://www.lifemagazines.co.uk