A Stronger Core, NOW

So, I’m in the middle of training one of my oldest clients and one of the exercises in the set happens to be a push-up on a medicine ball.

Now, we’ve done this exercise at least 100 times together, but this time as I demonstrate it she makes an astute observation – “your core is doing all the work, isn’t it?”

“Yup.”

In fact, we’ve had this conversation many times, but repetition is the mother of skill, so I continue…

“Yes. Actually, any exercise, if done properly, is a core exercise.

For example, when you assume the push-up position, your legs are tight and heels pushed back – squeeze the quads. Your glutes are tight – squeeze your butt. And you must brace your core isometrically.

This means you tighten your entire midsection as if you were about to be gut punched – got the image?

ALL movement and strength translate through your core, so the better you can integrate your breathing with your movement with your alignment through the center of your body the stronger, more powerful, and more injury-resistant you will be! (read that again)

The BEST “Core” Exercise

“In fact, I continued, do you know what the best “core” exercise is? A heavy overhead press.

Why?

Because, as we said above, all strength translates through your core and your entire midsection must be braced to support the weight over head. This isometric bracing of your core is a powerful way to get very strong!

Now, when you do that in every exercise (bodyweight or kettlebell or otherwise), guess what you are doing?

That’s right – you’re training your core to fire in every movement which not only stabilizes the body but enhances your strength and power output as well. Add in the breathing and you are superhuman!

Here’s a video on how to perform the perfect push-up.

Note the emphasis on the core tightening and the breathing!

Looking to take your push-up game, and your core strength, to the next level?

Master your strength with the Push-Ups for Internal Power program