Maybe you have been told you have a weak core and that this weakness contributes to your low back pain. I emphasize the word “contributes” because chronic low back pain is always caused by many reasons.

We know from research that training your core can help…some. But for many, even core training does not provide the desired results of pain relief. That’s because if you only focus on STRENGTH you miss training the muscular core for it’s true function…the more gentler ways that your core supports you!

Our society promotes a firm and hard core! You’ve seen the pictures of the “six pack” and we are told that this is a healthy core.

WRONG!

A healthy core is one that:

• is flexible to allow movement of the spine

• expands with the breath to allow full diaphragm and rib movement

• engages at low loads while sitting, standing and walking for trunk support

• coordinates with other muscles with accurate timing and control

• braces to assist other muscles in lifting heavy loads

You can see that only training with planks and sit-ups or crunches does not take into account full function of your core.

AND there is one big reason why your core doesn’t function the way that it should…

STRESS!

That’s right, ongoing poorly managed stress keeps the nervous system on high alert. In this state, big muscles of the torso stay tense at the ready to “punch or run” all the time. This tension leads to poor functioning in the core as described above.

A great way to get started with both stress management AND training of your core is SLOW DEEP BREATHING.

If you have had limited success with training your core and feeling less low back pain, AND you are interested in the kinder and gentler ways to train your core..

Register for my online workshop: Engage and Empower Your CORE.

You will get immediate access to a lesson about the function of your core, a guided self-assessment of both your superficial and deep core, short trainings to take the time you need to develop your core…from the inside out!