Have you ever wondered what fitness trainers are talking about when they refer to strengthening the core muscles? For those of you who don't know the core muscles consist of the abdominals, the obliques, the lower back muscles and several inner muscles of the trunk of your body, not including your arms or legs. All of these muscles work together so that you can bend, twist and reach, both up and across to incorporate many other movements' that are done every day.
The core muscles are the helper muscles that allow us to reach up and grasp a book from an upper shelf. The same muscles that you use when you bend over to pick up your child, or the muscles needed when you reach across a boardroom table to hand a colleague your latest report. Keeping these muscles strengthened provides healthy benefits to women's fitness.
One major benefit of improved core strength is better posture. Weak abdominals cause the body to have a slump forward. Plus, weak core muscles make other muscles compensate resulting in the body's loss of its natural alignment, which can lead to back problems. Moreover, bad posture looks bad and hides your feminine figure.
If you exercise regularly you may be interested to know that improving your core strength will allow you to increase the amount of weight that you can lift. A strong core will help you to stabilize the rest of your body, especially important when you are doing lifts such as a squat or lunge. I strongly encourage women to engage their core with all of my exercise routines at Fitness4Her.com.
In addition to the benefits for women's fitness and health, core strength is the secret to reducing the risk of injury and alleviating back pain. A strong core will lead to a stronger back and reduce the stress and strain on your joints and bones. This is especially important during pregnancy.
Strong core muscles give your body the long lean look of a dancer's body. One of the greatest Pilates' principles is to engage your core at all times. Originally exercises developed for dancers, Pilates teaches you to strengthen your core through a mind, body connection. Once you begin engaging your core throughout the day, it will become easier until you will do it automatically without having to think about it.
Strengthening your core muscles may encourage your weight loss goals. That's because even with existing body fat, strong core muscles will make you appear skinnier, helping to keep you motivated to lose weight. We all want to see results for our hard work and strengthening your core can give you the boost you need to stay inspired.
Core strengthening exercises include sit-ups, squats, abdominal twists, and many others. Most of the exercises that I share with my members at Fitness4Her.com are designed to strengthen the core and accent the curvy, fabulous female body. The benefits to a strong core include appearance, movement, strength and wellness. For women it is the center of gravity and should always be incorporated in every move we make.
Karen Ficarelli is the founder and CEO of Fitness4Her.com, a diet, exercise program and women's fitness blog, developed especially for women. A mother of three, Karen knows how hard it is to fit everything into a busy schedule. A fitness author, personal trainer, Pilate's instructor, sports nutritionist, fitness model, wife and mom, Karen is passionate about helping other women reach their fitness goals. She knows firsthand that the desire to attain a healthy, slim and well-toned body is just as important as any other dream that a woman can have. But going a step further, Karen understands that to achieve that dream, you first must believe in it. Think it, believe it, achieve it... http://www.fitness4her.com/ the website for women's fitness.
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