Core Fitness Abs #1 - Improving Sit-up Technique with Pilates Exercises

Centerworks Pilates Blog: http://Centerworks.com/blog
Do you use your abs or your thighs when you do a sit-up?

Core Training is that ideal, and sometimes elusive torso strength that helps protect the back from injury, assists in improved posture, body alignment, and support, and definitely helps us feel better about our appearance. Effective core training may or not mean that you'll be showing off your own set of 6-pack abs. The deep core muscles that really matter for support, aren't the ones you're looking at for a 6-pack! It will take dedicated motivation to be consistent with both your exercise program and good eating habits to get you to the point that you're sporting 6-pack abs! So begin measuring your success by how much stronger you are, and how much easier it is to move, or how much better your back feels during exercise and throughout the day, if you are challenged with ab or back issues.

Today's Core Training Tip asks the question, are you using your Thighs or your Abs when you do sit-ups? Because here's the secret
•The Less You Use The Fronts of Your Thighs - The More You'll Use Your Abs.

It's okay to do sit-ups and crunches with your feet hooked under something for support - but Id encourage you to also do a set or two using your hamstrings and Glutes to hold your own feet down! Ideally your core muscles should be strong enough that you can do a sit up and roll back down to the mat with control without having your feet and thighs fly up off the mat.

If your legs and feet fly up, while you're curling up, you're going to get stuck, or at some point, your upper body is going to fall back down towards the floor.

It seems like in a Pilates mat class the roll up and neck pull are two of the most challenging exercises at both of these are working on this very thing! So make a conscious effort to feel the back of your legs working more to press down against the mat, keep the front of the hips more relaxed, and enjoy knowing that your core muscles are now working harder while you're practicing your exercises.

It might not happen perfectly today, but with a little practice you'll find it much easier to articulate through your core and have the right muscles working to roll up and down off the mat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTpZtuhYGyw

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Tags:

• core training
• ab workout
• pilates
• 6 pack abs
• pilates matwork
• pilates training
• fitness exercises
• sit-ups
• pilates exercises
• Physical Fitness
• Physical Exercise
• aliesa george
• lisa george
• alisa george
• centerworks
• joseph pilates
• abdominal exercises

[Livingproof23]

good tips!

[mikael950926]

Good work! Its quit hard to do sit ups without using a couch ore somthing like that.. But its a real killer!

[Phoebers521]

Great tips for working those abs!