Pilates

What does "core strength and stability" mean? And why should I care?
People often refer to having a strong stomach as having "core strength", there's more to it than just that. Your core refers to the bands of muscles, ligaments, and bones supporting your spine and your pelvis, which ultimately houses your spinal cord, which in turn supports your head and brain...and they don't call it your central nervous system for nothing.

We've all seen someone with a strong and tight torso, and there is no denying it looks terrific. Your torso is an anchor for corresponding joints and limbs. Pilates teaches your body to rely on this core for strength rather than burden your joints with the load. Although it may seem like something we all should do naturally, unless you come from a history of dance or gymnastics, the odds are you'll be surprised at how life makes it tricky to stay strong in the torso...

And here's the bonus: especially if you are dealing with injury, your core can take a real beating (remember Rocky getting hit in the stomach while doing sit-ups on an incline?! Yikes!) providing much support to joints that need a break to recover, like a shoulder or knee. By practicing pilates, you will train your body to move properly and it will respond by protecting your organs, vertabrae, joints and muscles from injury. Building a “cast of muscle” around your spine and pelvis is important so that when you bend, twist, or just stand you are both teaching your body how to move properly and are protecting your organs, vertabrae, joints and muscles from injury.