Finding Your Core (and working it, too!)

This post is by Tiffany, a guest blogger on The Z Beat!

Oxford Dictionary defines the core as:

The muscles of the torso, especially the lower back and abdominal area, which assist in the maintenance of good posture, balance, etc.

I’m always getting questions like “How can I flatten my stomach?” and “How can I get more definition in my abs?”

Photo credit

We owe it to our students to stay informed and educated, especially when it comes to these common questions. They look up to us, and often seek us out for fitness knowledge (whether we have it or not!).  

First, we have to know the basics. The core encompasses the lower back, obliques, abdominals, and glutes. These groups, when exercised properly, can not only redefine the body's shape, but keep the body safe from injury by adding stability. With this knowledge, we can create choreography that targets these muscle groups. With repetition comes toning. Dancing is more fun than doing hundreds of crunches, right?

Knowing how important the core is to overall fitness, I always try to incorporate core exercises into my routines. When I choreograph a song to be core intensive, I always take a moment to show my students the muscle groups we're about to use and how to protect themselves. Sometimes just pointing out what muscles to focus on helps them get a better work out.

Once I show them what the plan is, we GO FOR IT! We body roll, shimmy, pump, and rock our way to core strength and stability with smiles on our faces. My motto is "Keep it simple, keep it safe, make it fun!"

What is your method?  Tell us your "core" strengths!! ;)