That means they can be a good addition to your routine when you’re strapped for time but still want to get an intense, full-body workout.
Core stabilization moves require similar multi-muscle group coordination, which can make them a functional addition to your workout routine.Īnother perk of core stabilization moves? They provide a lot of bang for your exercise buck, says Jamison, since you are working so many different body parts at once. Instead, you rely on lots of different muscle groups working together. Think about it: When completing day-to-day activities-like walking, getting up off the floor, or carrying a heavy bag of groceries up the stairs-you rarely use just one muscle group at a time to get the job done. In this sense, core stabilization moves more closely mimic movements you perform in daily life than isolation exercises do. Remember, your core isn’t just your abs (meaning, your rectus abdominis, or the muscles which run vertically along the front of your abdomen)-it also includes your obliques (the muscles on the sides of your torso) and transverse abdominis (the deepest core muscles that sit beneath your obliques), as well as your glutes, pelvic floor, and the muscles that stabilize your spine and hips. Compared to crunches, which isolate your abdominal muscles, core stabilization moves recruit multiple core muscles as well as tons of other muscles, like those in your back, butt, legs, chest, shoulders, and hips. The secret to this routine’s effectiveness? Core stabilization through total-body, compound moves.Ĭore stabilization moves are “very functional,” NASM-certified personal trainer Alicia Jamison, C.P.T., a trainer at Bodyspace Fitness in New York City, tells SELF. We have a kettlebell abs workout that will seriously ignite your abdominals-and, really, your entire core and body-in just six moves, zero crunching required.
In fact, it doesn’t have to involve any crunches. An abs routine doesn’t have to involve tons of crunches to fire up your core.