It’s hard to know which type of group fitness classes are worth the time and effort since there are so many options available. Some forms of exercise are trendy and fade with time, while others continue to garner captive audiences years after coming on the scene. One group exercise class gaining attention for producing results for participants is core training.
Exercise science has shown that the torso of the human body can be described as the center of power. While some fitness participants may work on abs during their exercise routine, many fail to recognize the importance of working not just the front muscles but also the muscles of the back and sides. These include the obliques and lower lats, as well as the transverse abdominis and erector spinae.
Core classes incorporate various moves and exercises to develop and strengthen these stabilizer muscles. The results can help prevent injuries to the back, improve athletic performance, and aid in performing everyday physical tasks.
It’s not big news that Americans are becoming more sedentary. Office jobs and other factors contribute to more sitting and less active lifestyles, which can lead to excess weight in the body’s midsection. Numerous problems result. Exercising the core muscles can combat a variety of issues.
One believer in core training is local fitness instructor Janna Hilton. The mother of three children, Hilton knew she needed to become involved in some form of exercise classes, but it wasn’t until she joined a gym did she learn the benefits of core training.
“I had begged my husband for a gym membership and he finally gave me one as a Valentine’s Day gift,” says Hilton, 39, laughing.
The gift proved to be a stepping stone for Hilton. One year later, she moved from participant to certified instructor for core fitness classes. It was not an easy process to become trained as a fitness instructor, but Hilton succeeded. Three years into it, Hilton is still singing the praises of core training.
“Core works everything from your shoulders to your hips. The front and back. Your core affects every part of your life, from bending to sitting to standing, and core training develops and strengthens all those muscles,” she says.
Hilton describes the exercises in the type of class she teaches as functional training. She has learned that core training is basically a total body workout when arm and leg movements are incorporated into the workout. According to Hilton, many serious fitness participants and athletes will neglect the core when working out because they are focused on developing cardio endurance or leg strength for such activities as cycling, running, or weight lifting.
“It comes as a surprise to them when they take a core class for the first time and can’t finish a set of exercises. I’ve seen professional athletes struggle in this class, because they may do sit-ups, but that’s the extent of their core work,” says Hilton.
Does that mean only the most fit benefit from participating in core training?
“Definitely not. Core training is for all ages and levels of fitness. It helps people who are just starting out on an exercise program as well as those who are advanced fitness participants. I have a 12-year-old son who plays baseball who has taken the class and one of the participants in my class is 87 years old,” she says.
Other than strengthening the core muscles of the body and even developing more abdominal definition, Hilton says core training improves mobility and stability. She explains that as the human body ages, it loses flexibility and balance. Strengthening the muscles in the core region of the body helps maintain balance and flexibility for simple tasks such as bending and reaching and also for movements associated with most sports.
Athletes have found core training benefits their overall performance. High school, college, and professional sports programs are using core fitness techniques to develop stronger, more productive athletes. Fitness trainers use core development when working one-on-one with clients to help bring about the same results.
Like most fitness programs, core training is available in various forms and in most gyms that offer group exercise classes. The length of the class varies.
Hilton teaches a half-hour core fitness class that involves five tracks of exercises set to music. The routine changes every six weeks, with four releases per year. She recommends getting approval from medical professionals before beginning any exercise program but core training is something Hilton believes is vital for an overall healthy body.
“I feel stronger since I began. I sleep better, my posture is better and it only takes 30 minutes. What could be better than that?” she says.
(Some information for this article was obtained from Internet sources)
Columbus Valley/Core Exercise/April 2016
By Beth Welch
Photos by Beth Welch
