Hey ladies! I hope y’all are off to a great start here at the beginning of 2019! We are already more than halfway through January and there’s so much to talk about! Today I wanted to write about something we touched on last week… your core! Having a strong and stable core is one of the most important things you can do for your body! For y’all who come to my Celeb Barre class, you know I talk about keeping a “tight core” the entire time. It’s something that should always be on your mind while you exercise, and I’m here to tell you why! You may not be worried about getting a six-pack, but it’s always a good idea to strengthen those abs… they support the rest of your body and are one of the biggest secrets to getting toned in other places.
When you hear “abs,” you probably picture a tight, tan, toned tummy with rigid lines… aka a six-pack! But there’s so much more to having a strong core. Your abdominals are actually made up of a few different muscle groups. Ever heard me talk about your “pelvic floor” muscles? That’s part of your core! Those muscles do just what they sound like—they support your pelvis and the organs surrounding. Thigh dancing is AMAZING for strengthening your pelvic floor muscles, and everything from spine stability to bladder control is impacted by the strength of your pelvic floor! These muscles work with your abdominals and your obliques. We do a lot of oblique work in Celeb Barre, too. They’re the muscles that run along the sides of the waist and torso, all the way from your ribs to your hipbones. Oblique muscles support rotating motions and protect the torso… if you think about your normal, everyday activities you’ll see how important this part of your core is! The stronger your obliques are, the less likely you are to injure your lower back… and I bet we all know someone with a bad back! Protect yourself and strengthen your core—it’s the perfect time to start!
Now that we know what muscles make up our core, let’s get to work! On Lauren Fox on Demand, you’ll find that each workout has a LOT of core involved! When you come to class with me, listen for all the times I tell you to “tighten your core,” “pull your belly button in,” and “squeeze your kegels” because these are all reminders to engage your abdominals and get stronger where it counts! 80 percent of all Celeb Barre classes are core work… so it’s important! Aren’t sure how to do an exercise? Come ask me… that’s why I’m here! I want you to be the best you can be.
The great thing about exercising your core is that it provides stability and protection while you’re doing other exercises and going about your day-to-day activities. Living a healthy lifestyle is about more than working out, of course, but working out with me is a great, easy place to start! Come to class or tune in on Lauren Fox on Demand! Let’s get those rock hard abs and enjoy all the healthy benefits that come with them!
Lauren
Get Fit, Foxy and Fabulous, at Home or Away,
on YOUR schedule, on Any Device!