(Originally published in Westchase WOW, February 2015)

Core strength is essential for maintaining a healthy body and improving athletic performance.

Core muscles are not just your abdominals. While also known as the powerhouse and center, they include deep stabilizing muscles that support the spine. Some disciplines, like Pilates, define the core as the pelvis, abdomen, and lower back. Most agree that all movement is initiated from the core.

To engage your core, draw the belly button up and in without holding your breath. Drawing the lower abdominal muscles up and in and ensuring the pelvis is in a neutral position is critical for proper alignment. Think of the pelvis as a cup full of water. If you are standing and have the pelvis tilted forward or backward, the water will spill out. Only when you are neutrally aligned will you not spill water.

Muscles on the back of the body often get ignored during workouts. I call this “mirror strengthening.” Mirror strengthening focuses solely on the muscles that you see in the mirror while neglecting those you do not see. Muscles work in pairs. Over emphasizing certain muscles and ignoring others creates muscular imbalances. Muscular imbalances cause lots of discomfort and can lead to serious injuries.

Begin correcting muscular imbalances by strengthening your center and improving flexibility. Many techniques can strengthen your core. Most core exercises come from yoga and Pilates and are used in disciplines that require balance. Much of the strengthening begins with very subtle movements or isometric contractions. You can use your own body weight or tools like ballet bars, cadillacs, and barrels, as well as bosu and stability balls, a rotational disc and weights.

Try different tools and methods to find what you like. Pure Barre located in the Publix shopping plaza just celebrated its one year anniversary. Franchise owner Aimee O’Neal explained the classes are not dance classes. The ballet bar is used as a tool to assist with balance. Stating she loves Pure Barre, Greens resident Sandy Smith said, “It is a challenging workout that has toned my muscles like no other workout has done before.”

The result? Owner O’Neal stated she used to have back pain but now has none.

Whether you embrace this option or another, it’s time to go hard core.