Core strength is truly the foundation for strength in every other muscle group of the body. Think about it — everything you do in fitness, you have to prepare your body for resistance. In other words, you need to brace yourself for any amount of resistance.
All of this starts in the midsection, otherwise known as the core. There are many different styles and positions you can use to build strength. Many of these moves can also be combination exercises to work numerous parts of your body all at one time.
Our move today is a reverse elevated knee tuck, and all you need is yourself and an elevated surface, such as a coffee table or fitness bench.
This move will be targeting your abdominals, but your triceps, glutes, and hamstrings will get their fair share of work as well.
Begin this move by sitting on the floor and placing the lower part of your legs on top of your elevated surface. Place your hands on the floor just behind you, palms down and elbows facing behind you. Now, lift your rear end up off of the floor and engage your core by rotating the hips upward. Lift the chest, and engage the glutes as well. Now you are ready to tuck.
Once your body is in position, proceed to pull one knee at a time in toward your chest. Then return it back to the starting position and proceed onto the next leg. Continue alternating between each knee tuck for either a determined number of tucks or for a desired amount of time.
Shoot for at least 10 tucks on both legs for one set. Giving yourself five sets. This move can be intensified by placing a hand weight or barbell plate on your tummy, although after one or two sets, your own body weight resistance may be more than enough.
This is a great at-home workout at your convenience or just as good at the gym, as part of your training session. Happy tucking!
Marlo Alleva, an instructor at Gold’s Gym and group fitness coordinator, can be reached at faluvzpa@msn.com.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: ALLEVA: Core strength is foundation for all other muscles