by Lisa Marie Mercer

Created on: February 25, 2008

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Everything old is new again?" This saying definitely applies to core exercise. While most of us might believe that core strengthening is a new fitness trend, the concept has been around for a long time. In fact, by reading about the history of core exercise, you will get a clear picture of the distinct benefits of having a strong core.

For centuries, Eastern philosophers have explored the value of centering exercises as a means of obtaining spiritual, physical and psychological harmony. In doing so, they refer to the center of gravity, which is located approximately two inches below the navel.
Meanwhile, in the western world, the head is considered to be the seat of consciousness. However, while our movements are indeed controlled by a complex message center in the brain, they originate in our center, otherwise known as the core. It's interesting to note that the term "core exercise" has become a catch phrase in the fitness industry.

Look in any fitness magazine or on any fitness website and you'll see many exercises that promote core strength. Unfortunately, not all exercise are suitable for everyone, and all too often, advanced exercises are presented to the general public that are only suitable for elite athletes. Even though some people are able to fake the exercises by using their larger muscles as stabilizers, a progressive system that begins with simple core muscle activation exercise is preferable.

First, let's backtrack and define what is meant by "core exercise." Ask most people what is meant by core muscles, and they will answer "my abs." Your "abs" are actually the superficial layer of abdominal muscle known as the rectus abdominus. Since they are surface muscles, they are not considered part of the core, and they do very little to assist with balance. The rectus abdominus is associated with spinal flexion, which is the action performed in traditional abdominal crunches. Ironically, it is designed to be a "fast twitch muscle," which means that it is supposed to be used for quick bursts of activity.

However, due to sitting hunched at a computer in the day, and performing hundreds of crunches at the gym, many people have trained their superficial abdominals to become "slow twitch" or endurance muscles. This can explain the hunched posture of many people who seem to be going through a de-evolutionary process in their postural alignment.

The core musculature is comprised primarily of the transverse abdominal muscle and the

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