Let's Get to The CORE of Our Beings

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Posted by Karen Cutrona-Underwood on Sunday Feb 05, 2012 11:28 am

We’re hearing the words Core and Strength a lot these days throughout the fitness world. What, exactly is our core and what exactly, are we strengthening?

I like the way Thomas C. Weiss describes it in an article he published: http://www.disabled-world.com/fitness/exercise/core-muscles.php#ixzz1lWz52j3J

“A person's functional movements are greatly dependent upon their core. People who lack core development may experience a predisposition to injury. The major muscles of a person's core reside in their belly area and in their mid and lower back, to include their hips, neck, and shoulders.

The major muscles involved include the pelvic floor muscles, multifidus, transverse abdominus, rectus abdominus, internal and external obliques, erector spinae – particularly the longissimus thoracis, as well as the diaphragm. The minor core muscles involved include the gluteus maximus, latissimus dorsi, and trapezius. The function of the core is to stabilize the person's thorax and pelvis during dynamic movement, as well as to provide internal pressure in order to expel substances.”

That’s quite an impressive description, and well it should be, regarding the CORE unit of our bodies. There’s a lot of interaction within the musculature of our core simply to move our arms and legs, let alone when we challenge our bodies through more intense physical activity.

Let’s appreciate the core of your beings. Not only is it the powerhouse from which all movement is established and made in our bodies, but it also houses our internal organs. We focus on knitting together the musculature of the abdominus, and obliques to create that carved-out six-pack, eight-pack, and v-cut through the hip flexor area. Sexy, yes? Think, organ prolapse… Sexy, no! A tighter, toner core keeps our organs in place!

In yoga, an ancient pose called “Pavanamuktasana” or Wind Removing Pose - smile, it's okay - does the job of tightening and toning your core muscles while in an anatomically safe and supported position. When practiced to create an opposing force within the upper and lower musculature of your core, you’ve got one static strengthening “exercise,” tightening the unit supporting your heart and lungs, as well as, toning your shoulders, abs, back and glutes, making you look fABulous on the beach!

Let me also mention that practicing this pose will massage your digestive organs as you engage and breathe deeply…

Pavanamuktasana

With your back lying upon a firm surface, tuck your knees tightly to your chest. Keep your feet side-by-side to one another. With your head remaining on the ground, dip your chin downward toward your throat. Press your shoulders away from your ears and lock down your wings. Reach for your opposite elbows and draw your arms inward. Engage your upper-body strength and roll your knees in tightly to your chest. Engage your lower-body strength and press your tailbone down toward the ground. You create an opposing force within your core unit toning and tightening even the intercostal muscles between your back ribs. This engagement also helps to hold your spine firm and straight. Breathe as deeply as you can with your mouth closed in this position, and gain the revitalizing massaging effect for your digestive organs at the front of your belly.

In Pavanamuktasana, the core of your being is engaged, your organs beomce stimulated, your back strengthened, spine straightened. It's a one-stop, core-plus-more, yoga pose.

Enjoy your body. Get to know the CORE of your being. Infuse it with goodness and gratitude for being able to move and breathe, and to feel the opposing forces you create within your musculature.

LIVE in your body better, today.

Be happy. Live healthy.

Karen Cutrona Underwood, Better-Body-Inhabiter, and Owner of Blue Moon Yoga and Fitness, Inc.

Filed under Health And Well-Being

Tags: body breathe challenge fitness poses prana strengthen tighten tone yoga