Fitness provides mortals with an opportunity to feel stronger and look capable of fighting God. Size and power doesn’t translate to skill without stability. Balance is delicate way of describing the foundation of your fitness house, the grace it takes to harness force and transfer it accurately. Everything about your body can become so wildly poetic if you allow yourself to sink into the idea that even in stillness there is power. When it comes to my fitness wheelhouse the strengths live in the dynamic movements and my struggle to be still or slow down has only been alleviated by imagining the movements to require the same precision as accurate writing. There is nothing left to take away.

When “core work” or “core strength” are mentioned the first thing brought to mind is surely six pack abs or your rectus abdominis muscle the creates that shape. Everyone has abdominal muscles it is just to what degree are they developed and your percent of body fat. Your core is not just your abs its all the muscles that hold you upright, help you breath, and stop you from peeing in your pants. Core work has become synonymous with abdominal work due to our activities of daily living which had effected or created muscle imbalances.

To become an unstoppable force you need to do time mimicking an immovable object. The plank is in its simplicity the hero of your workout as you fight against the forces of gravity. Good core work utilizes more than your abs and planks requiring your glutes and hamstrings to fire as well supports proper posture, and improves balance. Balance is the key to grace and accurate movement. If you can’t transfer force you can’t control it and your core not meant to generate power but to direct it.

Planking from hands as shown is an excellent isometric challenge, by planking from a push up position you become aware of your wrist mobility and where you are placing your weight on your hands. When you plank from your elbows more focus is put directly on the abdominal muscles but that is not how we move through life and it is good to practice how you play. Create better intention in your everyday movements by retraining your muscles in workouts.

Train with Megan A. Sherlock privately or by taking her classes focused on both Muscle and Flow or Sherlock-HIIT in Ramsey, NJ. Reach out to her for inquiries here. Find her on Facebook and Instagram. Participate in the American Cancer Society’s Walk

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