Fitness Fridays: Engage that Core!!!

Aloha:)!

We all hear our instructors telling us, "Engage that core!" but do we all know why they tell us to do that like all the time?!?!  As they and many say, engaging your core is important!  I never knew much about core exercises and the benefit of having a strong core before starting Pole Fitness and looking more into it.  After doing my research out of curiosity I know the benefits and I want to share what I have learned with you awesome people!  First of all, we are all brainwashed or assume that our core are our abdominals when in fact the core consists of the area from your chest all the way to your thighs!  if you really think about it, these are the main muscles in which you us daily and even at sometimes every minute or second of the day!  So you can see the importance of keeping this area strong and engaged during Pole Fitness or any workout at that!  Better balance, better coordination and greater muscle tone are the main benefits to engaging your core (which are GREAT benefits!).  Here's a little break down to better understand just why and how these benefits arise from just engaging your core:

Better Balance!

By engaging your core when you are pole dancing you are centering your strength which then focuses that strength to your core.  When the core is engaged and strong your balance increases because all your strength in centered in the largest and main muscle groups of your body.  The core muscles help you keep balanced through out all your daily tasks like walking, working out, etc.  If you still don't understand why and how engaging your core can better your balance do a little test!  Do this test near a wall and be ready to catch yourself.  Garb a trusted partner and have them shove you as you stand without engaging your core.  You may go flying which is why you need a trusted partner.  Go ahead and do this same thing but with engaging your core.  See the difference?!?!?  Can you see how engaging your core can help with Pole Fitness?!  It is crazy how just engaging your core can help with your balance of everyday activities to Pole Fitness!

Better Coordination!

By engaging all your core muscles, your entire body will work together to complete the task you are doing.  Picking up heavier loads is an awesome example!  When picking up heavier loads you need to bend down, lift with your legs (NOT YOUR BACKS PLEASE!), support the load with your biceps and keep your body in an upright position with your abs ... all at the same time!  Try engaging your core every time you pick up a heavier load, you will start to notice everything flowing a little better and your coordination also improving!  Isn't that amazing, just by engaging and strengthening your core you can also better your coordination for Pole Fitness which we all know you need!!!

Greater Muscle Tone!

This benefit is a given seeing that you are engaging and strengthening your main muscle groups greater muscle tone is bound to follow!!!

Doesn't now knowing the benefits of engaging your core make you want to engage your core all the time?!?!  Do it!  This will only benefit you in all that you do on a daily basis!  I personally engage my core all the time more so now because I could use these added benefits!!!  I have a office job that requires me to sit in one spot for 8 hours a day:/  I long ago decided to throw out the rollie office chair and swap it out with my awesome bouncy exercise ball!  This helps tremendously with engaging your core throughout the day because if you don't .... your probably going down!  Well, go and engage those cores and have a beautiful Friday!!!