Think about a big oak tree. It could be hundreds of years old but its trunk is solid and strong. It has to be to support the weight of the tree and its growth over time. Your core is the central part of your body. It includes your pelvis, lower back, hips and stomach. Think of your core as your trunk. 

You use it more than you think. Pushing a vacuum, walking the dog, working in the yard, putting on your shoes, reaching for something on a high shelf, etc. The stronger your core is, the easier these things are. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, any exercise that involves the use of your stomach muscles and back muscles in a coordinated way counts as a core exercise. For example, using free weights while keeping your core stable trains and strengthens many of your muscles, including your core muscles.

Without a strong core, you may have limited motion, bad posture, back pain, be more prone to injuries and have balance and mobility issues. You can see why maintaining a strong core is critical in supporting your body, maintaining posture and enabling efficient movement, among other benefits.

And while we all may not like doing core exercises, it’s a critical piece of your overall health and well-being. Classic core exercises stabilize and strengthen your core. There are many ways to do this. Classic core exercises include planks, sit-ups and fitness ball exercises. Other core exercises might include bridges, bird dogs, Russian twists, crunches, dead bugs, v-sits, wood chops, shoulder taps, etc. Sound familiar? You’re working your core. 

At Board30 Ponte Vedra, you’ll hear instructors remind you to tighten your core or say, “core tight.” You get plenty of core work during a class. Engaging your core during the trampoline rounds, sky bands, resistance bands and board workouts engage your core even when you aren’t doing core-specific exercises. And then most instructors throw in “abs” and more core work at the end to round out the workout.

You don’t need a gym or fitness studio to do core work. Yoga, Pilates, cardio – cycling, running or swimming, also require core engagement, so there are a lot of options to strengthen your core.