Lets Talk About Core Strength
Lets Talk About Core Strength
You Should Know What Your Body Needs and Where Your Balance & Control Comes From
Ellicottville has always been a destination for skiers, hikers and mountain bikers. Now with the opening of the outdoor public skatepark and Daily City Train’s new indoor skatepark, our little town offers a haven for riders of every ability. But before you get on that board/bike/scooter, you should know that your body needs to be in sync with your equipment. And of course, where does all your balance and control come from? ... YOUR CORE STRENGTH.
The core is a group of muscles that stabilize your pelvis and spine (and therefore influences the legs and upper body). Core strength is less about power and more about the subtleties of being able to maintain the body on an ideal posture - to unload the joints and promote ease of movement. To “engage” your core, think about bracing for a punch to the gut. The trick to a strong core is to keep that engagement at all times - standing, sitting twisting, etc.
A good core program relies less on mindless repetition of exercise and focuses more on the awareness. People with good core strength learn to identify and activate the muscles needed to accomplish a task. Learning to activate the core requires concentration and leads to being more in tune with the body.
For people who are using equipment like skateboards and mountain bikes, your core needs to be ready to activate to an ever-changing terrain. Therefore, I typically train my clients on unstable surfaces like a balance board or BOSU ball. This “instability training” adds a real-life element to the core challenges you will find while using your board or bike. TRX bands are another excellent way to strengthen your body from the core to the legs and arms by using your own bodyweight as your resistance and muscle builder. Plyometrics and isometrics are also excellent techniques to strengthen your core for these activities.
There is no one method of core strengthening that works for everyone. While building the core starts with awareness and control, athletes can further challenge their stability with more complex movements that can be guided by athletic trainers and other fitness specialists.
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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.
