Why Core Strength is Non-Negotiable
Why Core Strength is Non-Negotiable
Core Strength is a Fundamental Training Principle
I have been in the fitness industry for exactly 40 years. (God that makes me feel old.) And as I have written numerous articles about fitness trends that have come and gone, one thing that has been tremendously important throughout the years and is literally a fundamental training principle at Core Performance Fitness is core strength.
Core strength training may be the most important term in the fitness world, but to really appreciate core strength you have to fully understand what it means and where the term comes from.
Joseph Hubertus Pilates (December 9, 1883 - October 9, 1967) was a German-born physical trainer credited with inventing and promoting the Pilates method of physical fitness. Pilates was actually a sickly child who suffered from asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever. Because of this, he dedicated his entire life to his physical strength. He was introduced by his father to gymnastics, body-building and martial arts. By the age of 14, he was fit enough to pose for anatomical charts. Pilates came to believe that the “modern” lifestyle, bad posture and inefficient breathing lay at the roots of poor health. He ultimately devised a series of exercises and training techniques, and engineered all the equipment, specifications and tuning required to teach his methods properly.
During WWI, the British authorities interned Joseph Pilates along with other German citizens to concentration camps. During this imprisonment, Pilates studied yoga and the movements of animals and trained fellow inmates in fitness and exercise. He later said that the intuitive movements of cats, in particular, inspired many aspects of his fitness regime. It was while he was imprisoned that Joseph Pilates began refining his minimal equipment system of mat exercises that later became “Contrology”. This term is still one of the strongest features of Pilates and one I try to instill with every single person I work with. Contrology is related to encouraging the use of the mind to control the muscles and focusing attention on the core postural muscles that help keep the body balanced and provide support for the spine. In particular, Pilates exercises teach awareness of breath and the alignment of the spine and strengthen the deep torso and abdominal muscles.
After WWI, Joseph Pilates moved to the United States. He and his wife Clara founded a studio in New York City which developed a devoted following from dancers and performing artists alike. The Pilates regimen built flexibility, strength and stamina.
Since Joseph Pilates, there have been many other experts and enthusiasts who can all agree that “core stiffness” is mandatory and essential to carry heavy loads, run fast and change direction quickly. It determines the rate of speed for movement of the arms and legs making it very clear: Training the core is non-negotiable.
Core stiffness is also universal, meaning that you do not need to be an athlete to find the value in it - everyday movements like lifting a child/grocery, cleaning your home, playing an instrument (as one of my clients describes their flute playing is better than ever by engaging core strength while playing).
To learn more about how to strengthen your core, check out Core Performance Fitness and Training. With 40 years of experience we have been teaching our clients what it means to engage your core. We also offer Pilates with Rae Dove.
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Kim Duke is a certified personal trainer and owner of Core Performance Fitness and Training, located at 55 Bristol Lane, Ellicottville, NY. Kim resides in Ellicottville where she raised her two sons, Zach and Nik. For more information about her studio visit her Facebook page or www.coreperformancefitness.com. Kim can be reached directly at 716-698-1198.
