Great Posture And Fitness - The 5 Best Core Stability Exercises

Core stability training is designed to strengthen your torso with its wide range of muscles from abdominal muscles, internal and external obliques and the muscles that are running along the spine. Why should they need to be strengthened?

Torso or core muscles help provide support for your bones during your everyday activities. Improving these muscles will increase your general physical fitness and decrease your likelihood of back and neck pains or injuries from physical activities.

One of the most important aspects of core stability training programs is that you need to address all muscle groups of the torso in a balanced way. Here are the five best exercises that will give you a good starting point.

1. Straight Crunch. This classic exercise move strengthens the "6-pack abs" part of the upper body.

2. Crossover Crunch. The crossover crunch is a great exercise that adds a twist of the upper body to the straight crunch movement. This strengthens the muscles that are on the side and front of the abdomen.

3. Back Extension. The back extension exercise is performed lying on your stomach, and contracting the back muscles that run along your spine.

4. Arm Sweep. Sitting down in a slightly leaned-back position, the outstretched arms are moved in a helicopter like circle, twisting your upper body back and forth around your hips. This targets the external obliques.

5. Plank or Push-Up. Finally, the plank or push-up exercises address the "transverse abdominis", the muscles that are lying in the depth of your abdomen, wrapping around the spine. These muscles protect and stabilize your spine most directly and are crucial in avoiding back pains.

Performing these exercises in a balanced way will favor a specific muscle group in each exercise while working out the complete core training package. It may be best to get yourself a personal trainer, especially during the beginning stages of core stability training. That way you can quickly achieve great results as fast as possible. After such quick success from personal trainer help, you can then move on to more advanced exercises to maintain good core strength.