Yoga, Health, and Wellness Articles + Recipes

For decades, the fitness world did a pretty good job of convincing us that the core was essentially another word for abs. A strong core meant a flat stomach, visible definition, and probably a heroic number of crunches. Thankfully, we've learned a lot since then. Your abdominal muscles are certainly part of your core, but they're only one piece of a much bigger system. Muscles surrounding your abdomen, pelvis, hips, and spine work together to stabilize your trunk, transfer force between your upper and lower body, maintain balance, and support you as you move through everyday life. Most of that work happens without fanfare. You don't think about your core when you stand up from the couch, carry groceries, reach for something on a high shelf, walk up a flight of stairs, or catch yourself when you trip over the dog's toy. Yet somewhere in the background, muscles are coordinating to keep you stable and help your body move as one connected unit. Some of the most valuable strength you have is strength you rarely see.