Saturday 8 November 2008

Core Strength Training

Some of you may have never heard of the phrase "Core strength training". Well core strength training is training the core of the body, the muscles that make up the core are

  • Transverse abdominals (Stomach)
  • Obliques (Stomach)
  • Rectus Abdominus (Stomach)
  • Erector Spinae (Back)
  • Ilio Psoas (Hips)
  • Glutius Maximus (Bottom)
  • Glutius Medius and Minimus (Bottom)
Core training is often overlooked by many as they concentrate on the big lifts like the bench press, but what they dont know is that by putting a little core training in to their workout their other lifts will improve.

In nearly all compound lifts the core muscles will have some part to play. An example will be the next time you try the lat pulldown, you will feel your core muscles tense as you pull the bar down.

Now for core strength training you dont need to add an extra training session for this, the easiest way to complete you core training is adding it at the end of all your workout sessions.

Here is a sample of what you can add to your workouts to improve your core strength

Workout day 1 - Crunches 4 x 30
Workout day 2 - Reverse Crunches 4 x 30
Workout day 3 - Russian Twists - 4 x 30

By building your core strength you will see gains in your big lifts as you engage these muscles to support the primary muscles in the lifts.

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