Core Strength Exercises
A strong core is undoubtedly a very essential positive feature of the human body. When your middle body is well-built, you can perform all the physical activities more efficiently. Furthermore, a stronger core helps to improve body posture, overall balance, and alleviate backache. As there are multiple muscles in this region, you need to work on each muscle to strengthen it. These muscles include rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, erector spinae, and obliques. Thus, we have prepared a list of the 10 best core strength exercises that are recommended by fitness experts.
The Plank Pose
Targeted Muscles – Abs, Back, Core, Hamstring Muscles, and Glutes
Plank is one of the most effective full-body exercises that help in strengthening the core too. While it might seem like a simple exercise, it’s quite difficult to hold the plank pose for a long time. Furthermore, this amazing exercise also helps in improving body posture by maintaining the alignment of the bones.
How To Do The Plank Pose?
- Get down on the floor on all fours i.e. your knees and arms.
- Bend your arms to place your elbows on the floor, right under your shoulders.
- Extend your legs backward to get into the initial pushup position, such that your whole body is in a straight line.
- Squeeze your core, glutes, and quadriceps while holding this position, without letting your middle body dip down.
- When you can’t hold it any longer, return to the initial position and then try again after regaining energy.
Dead Bug
Targeted Muscles – Ads, Lower Back, Hips
Dead Bug is another gem in the list of most effective core strengthening exercises. This is an excellent workout to alleviate backache, improve posture, enhancing body balance, and coordination. However, you need to perform it correctly to obtain all the above-mentioned benefits.
How To Do Dead Bug Exercise?
- Lie down on the floor on your back and lift your arms straight up in the air.
- Now lift both your knees, such that there is a right angle between your core, thighs and lower legs respectively.
- After that, you need to simultaneously drop your left arm and right leg towards the floor while keeping them straight.
- Return to the initial position, and repeat the 3rd step with the right arm and left leg.
- Repeat these steps 10-15 times on each side per set.
Glute Bridge
Targeted Muscles – Core, Hips, Gluteus Maximus, Gluteus Minimus, Quadriceps
Glute Bridge is a great core strengthening and lower body toning workout. This exercise is great for people suffering from backache, knee pain, or hips pain. Furthermore, it helps to improve body posture, balance, and tones lower body areas like buttocks.
How To Do Glute Bridge?
- To do a glute bridge, lie down on the floor on your back and bend both your knees.
- After that, place both your palms on the floor near your buttocks.
- Then, lift your hips lift your hips off the ground to bring your back, buttocks, and thighs in a straight line. Thus, you will be balancing your body on shoulders and feet. Also, your lower legs should be at a right angle to the floor.
- Hold this position for 30-60 seconds and return to the initial position.
- Repeat these steps twice or thrice times daily.
Mountain Climbers
Targeted Muscles – Abs, Obliques, Lower Back, Glutes, Legs, Shoulders, Back, Triceps
Mountain Climbers is one of the favorite core strengthening exercises of many top fitness experts. This amazing full-body workout is great for toning and strengthening the core, lower body, and upper body too. Furthermore, it helps in boosting stamina, improving body balance, enhancing agility, and weight loss.
How To Do Mountain Climbers?
- To do mountain climbers, get down in the initial pushup position i.e. on your toes and extended arms.
- Make sure that your head, back, hips, and legs are in a straight line.
- After that, pull your right knee towards your chest and back to the initial position.
- Immediately after that, repeat the 3rd step with your left leg.
- Repeat these steps 15-20 times with each leg per set.
Crunches
Targeted Muscles – Abs, Obliques, Core, Lower Back
Crunches are one of the most commonly recommended exercises for toning and strengthening the core area. Also, this exercise is great to eliminate belly fat and you can do this exercise anywhere.
How To Do Crunches?
- Lie down on the floor on your back and bend your knees to bring your feet closer to your buttocks.
- Now place both your hand behind your head with fingers tangled together for better grip.
- While exhaling, lift your upper body to bring your chest towards your bent knees and hold for a second.
- Return to the initial position while inhaling.
- Repeat these steps 15-20 times per set.
Bicycle Crunches
Targeted Muscles – Abs, Obliques, Quadriceps, Hamstrings
Bicycle Crunches are a more intense variation of the standard crunches exercise. This exercise is very beneficial for the toning and strengthening of the core and lower body. Bicycle crunches also help in boosting stamina and the ability to perform various physical activities like athletics.