Top 10 Exercises To Challenge, Tighten & Strengthen Your Core

The Best Exercises To Challenge, Tighten & Strengthen Your Core

Your core includes several muscle groups that are located on your stomach, back and butt. These muscles work as a team to support your pelvis and spine, keep your back safe and improve your posture. Aside from the obvious aesthetic benefits, having a strong, tight core also enables you to perform exercises with better form and helps you work all other muscle groups more effectively. If you want to challenge your core and improve strength, stability, and posture, add these 10 exercises to your workout routine.

1 BIRD DOGS

The bird dog is a great exercise to add to your workout routine if your goal is to strengthen your core and improve posture and balance. This exercise also improves the stability of the lumbar spine and prevents lower back pain.

2 DOWNWARD DOG CRUNCH

If you want to work your whole body and burn off body fat while also tightening the core, add the downward dog crunch to your workouts.

3 DEAD BUG

The dead bug is a great core move that targets and strengthens the abdominal wall. This exercise helps to improve core strength, coordination, balance and flexibility.

4 SIDE PLANK ROTATION

Planks and side planks are the perfect exercises to activate the deep abdominal muscles and shrink the waistline.

5 BURPEES

This intense full body exercise not only increases your heart rate, strength, agility, and flexibility but it also helps you burn a ton of calories in a short period of time.

6 DUMBBELL LEG LOOP

The dumbbell leg loop actively engages your core, increases strength, coordination and flexibility, and helps to trim down your waist. This exercise keeps your whole body moving constantly and forces your core to be engaged at all times.

7 SPIDERMAN PLANK

This plank variation is a dynamic movement that works the core and the upper body and gives you a great cardio boost.

8 DONKEY KICK TWIST

The donkey kick twist targets your abs, obliques and lower back, and helps to sculpt and tighten your entire core. This exercise improves your posture and balance, and stabilizes the lumbar spine.

9 PLANK JACKS

By adding the jumping jacks movement to your regular plank you’re turning this exercise into a great cardio workout that not only strebgthens your core but also burns more calories.

10 CORE CONTROL REAR LUNGE

Compound moves that challenge your stability, like the core control rear lunge, are great for engaging your core while also working other muscle groups. This exercise gives you a great cardio boost and improves your metabolism, balance, strength and coordination.

FINAL TIPS FOR A STRONG, TIGHT CORE

TIP 1 – Start your core workout with a thorough warm up routine.
TIP 2 – Keep your core engaged at all times and breathe normally.
TIP 3 – Finish the workout with a core stretching routine.
TIP 4 – To burn the extra belly fat, do 30 minute of cardio workouts at least 3 times a week and add upper body, core and lower body workouts to your weekly schedule.
TIP 5 – Drink plenty of water throughout the day and follow a clean eating diet.