We consulted personal trainers and fitness experts to help answer these questions before your next workout. “When we talk about your core, think of it as a group of muscles that stabilize your spine,” says fitness trainer BB Arrington, NASM-CPT. This includes the back, abs, glutes, pelvic floor muscles, and even the diaphragm (muscle of respiration). More specifically, your “multifidus, erector spinae, rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, obliques, and pelvic floor” play a large role, she says, “and to a lesser degree, your latissimus dorsi, trapezius, and glutes.” Activating or engaging the core means you’re tightening all of those muscles at once. When working out, engaging your core helps you to move more efficiently, increase your strength, and can take pressure (load) off of the spine, Arrington says. “When it comes to your life outside the gym, engage when there is a challenge to be met, like picking up your child or putting your suitcase in the overhead bin,” she says. Doing so “helps you become more stable and gives the spine support.” That said, walking around with your core engaged 24/7 is not necessary. In fact, walking around with your “core pulled in” all the time, can lead to overworking of the muscles and other issues. “When the core is properly engaged, you’ll feel a lift in the center of the body,” Williams says. “It will feel like an elongation in the spine.” He says to think about stretching from the pelvis all the way to the top of the head. After the lift comes a zip and then a tightening, Arrington says. “When it comes to the sensation, your belly button will draw a bit closer to your spine, the pelvic floor will lift upward toward the crown of your head,” she says. “Your trunk will feel more rigid, and you’ll feel the pressure change internally as your muscles tighten.” It’s not just sucking in the belly. Breathing can also play a critical role in engaging the core. A focus on inhaling, exhaling, and regulating the breath can help muscle fatigue and performance, Williams explains. Try these five core-strengthening exercises to put your new knowledge to the test.
