Core exercises have, if you will pardon the pun, moved to the
center of the fitness world. And for good reason. If your core
is strong and flexible, stresses will be distributed throughout
your body better, your spine will be supported, and you will be
able to move with greater efficiency. But here is what you need
to know about core exercises: You need to know what the core is.
Too many people point vaguely to their bellies, announce they
are going to do core work, then slam out some crunches and think
they've done core. Not really. The Core Muscles In the broadest
definitions of the core, fitness experts include the whole
central section of the body all the way from the pelvis and hips
up through the midsection. A big list of core muscles might look
like this: - Deep back muscles like the erector spinae and
multifidus - Hip flexors and spine stabilizers like the psoas,
iliacus, and rectus femoris - Hip adductors and abductors - The
gluteus muscles (butt muscles) - The abdominal muscles from the
surface rect