I was asked by one of my clients recently "what is the Core, what does it actually mean"? Training the Core has become a buzz phrase of our time, and interestingly enough, it's one of the most studied topics in the last decade.

Before you can get your Core into shape you need to understand what it is and how you can strengthen it.

Your body's Core is often referred to as "The Powerhouse of your body"- it is the area around your trunk and pelvis; is where your centre of gravity is located and is where all your energy and movement originates from. The common misconception is that the Core is all about abs - wrong! The Core consists of 29 muscles in total working in harmony to provide stability to your body and protect you from injury.

There are numerous benefits to having a good Core:

Provides support to your spine // Brings stability to the centre of your body // Improves balance // Aides co-ordination for smooth flowing movements // Protection for your lower back // Increased physical strengh // And last but not least - tones the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles.

Like other muscle groups Core strenghtening requires regular exercise. Try using a Swiss Ball in your workouts - you need to focus on using your Core muscles for support (now you know why it's called a Stability Ball!). A few important things to remember when training your Core:

* Focus on quality not quantity.

* Breath steadily, slowly and through your nose - don't hold your breath!

* Take a break - if you've worked your core muscles to fatique during a session, wait a day between working them again.

* And finally - get help from a professional! It's vital that you have the proper body position and alignment when performing Core exercises - a few useful tips could make all the difference - it will set you off on the right track and save you from developing any bad habits.

The exercise options are unlimited so if you're looking to get on the road to Core stability and need some inspiration: please give Gym & Tonic a call.