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Are you really engaging your core the right way?

Posted November 2024

Ever wondered why your at home ab exercises or larger gym sessions aren’t always creating the results you expect?

It’s easy to fall into the trap of crunches and leg raises, one after the other, but relying solely on the same old, or the constant crunch in quantities often misses the mark when it comes to building true core strength.

Building a strong core isn’t just about the "six-pack" muscles, it’s about engaging deeper stabilisers like the transverse abdominis (shown below), which support your spine.

For example, during crunches, you might feel your upper abs working but miss these key muscles. That’s where an instructor’s cues can make a big difference. They might say something like, “Pull your belly button toward your spine, like zipping up tight jeans.” These reminders help you find good form and get the most out of your workout.

And then there’s the breath—when to breathe, how to breathe, inhale or exhale? It can be a lot to think about, especially when you’re working out at home or in a busy gym. But here’s the thing: the timing of your breath makes a huge difference in how effectively your muscles engage.

If you’re not breathing at the right time, you might not activate your muscles as fully as you could. It’s a small adjustment that can have a big impact on your workout, and having someone there to remind you during each exercise can make all the difference.

This is where an instructor becomes invaluable. They’ll cue you on when and how to breathe. For example, exhaling during a core contraction helps activate those muscles more deeply, while inhaling fully expands your diaphragm and supports your lower back. You might even hear our instructors remind you to use the classic “shhh” sound, a simple but powerful trick to help you connect your breath to your movement and get the most out of every rep.

Research shows that correct core activation is essential for strength, stability, and injury prevention. Without proper engagement, you may be leaving valuable results on the table (Healthline, 2021). Home workouts and big gym classes may be convenient and budget-friendly, but they often come with hidden costs. Without personalised guidance, it’s easy to fall into bad habits, misaligned posture, overusing certain muscles, and neglecting the pelvic floor.

How SMART Pilates can help.

At SMART Pilates, we offer more than just a workout. Our Clinical Pilates designed sessions, led by trained professionals, prioritise your safety and teach you to activate your core as a complete unit, ensuring all the right muscles, including your pelvic floor, are working at the right time.

If your at-home ab workouts aren’t getting results or you’re struggling to stay motivated, our studio offers the expert guidance and support you need to achieve real, lasting progress.

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