The Core of the Issue

Our muscles have various functions.  Depending on what we are doing, our muscles may be doing direct work, helping to control that work by opposing another muscle or group of muscles, or stabilizing the body as a whole.

Most of the things we do that fall under the category of core exercises intend to enable that last function.  A strong core makes everything else more efficient because the working muscles don’t have to take time out to keep us from falling over.

A strong core also helps us avoid pain.  (No, I don’t mean the pain of doing pretty princesses, although they do get less painful with practice.)  Activating core muscles helps prevent lower back pain brought on by sedentary jobs and long commutes.  Those same core muscles improve our posture, reducing stress on the body (and making us look better into the bargain!!).

Some of the best core exercises are the ones where we use our bodies in asymmetrical ways and/or challenge our balance.  They’re also less boring than ten million crunches.  We can find fun (or less horrible) ways to be strong and powerful.

Balancing Routine and Novelty

When we work out, we want to strike a balance between novelty and routine because both are beneficial for us.

Novelty is what keeps us growing.  Doing the same workout for months and years on end does not challenge our bodies or our minds enough.  We don’t explore different movement patterns and so don’t practice adaptation to new circumstances.

Routine, however, is a powerful force.  Knowing that Monday is the day we go to yoga and Tuesdays and Thursdays we lift weights helps make those plans automatic.  The body prepares for it, the car goes there on autopilot, and we’re done before we know it!

When we find ourselves bored or when we stop making progress, it is time to try something new.  However, if we find that we can’t seem to get those workouts done, it might be time to harness the magic of routine to put us on the right path.

We can do it!

Summer Fun

Summer workouts can be really fun, but there are a couple of things to consider to make them safer.

•      Hydrate.  When it’s hot, we sweat more and so we need to drink more, even if we don’t feel thirsty yet.  Plain water is best unless the workout takes more than an hour, in which case something with electrolytes can come in handy.

•      Wear sunscreen.  The only thing worse than workout soreness is workout soreness with bonus sunburn.  We also don’t want to be the fittest people ever to die of skin cancer, either.

•      Go early or late.  It tends to be cooler.

•      Wear clothes that breathe.  We all love our old concert shirts, but that cotton gets wet, heavy, and hot.  The fancy newer fitness fabrics can make the work seem less like a swim when we’re actually on land.

•      Have fun.  This one applies all year round, actually.  When we choose the activities we like best, we are more likely to keep doing them!!!!