Core Strengthening Exercises: Your Back Will Love You For This!

We put our back through all kinds of stuff, and it never complains. Or does it? If we're out of shape in our core muscles, our back will let us know pretty quick. The core muscles support the lower back and internal organs, and if we stop taking care of them, like most of us have, we are in for some soreness and more and more days of pain the longer we let it go on.

And in the weightroom, if we ever get there, we are at risk for straining the low back with every move we make.

So what are some good core strengthening exercises?

* Pilates. You can do any Pilates workout and you will come out ahead. I've used Pilates for years to keep the old middle tight and strong. Pilates has a sort of "girls only" reputation for some reason, but take it from me, guys; this is serious exercise.

* The Farmer's Walk. This is really a whole body exercise, but your core will work real hard, as will your back, legs, arms and hands. Just go pick up two very heavy dumbbells, and carry them over to the other side of the room and back again. Maybe another time. Your core will work overtime to keep you balanced and stable.

* The Wood Chopper. Hold a medicine ball in both hands over your head and off to one side. Then, as if you were chopping wood, swing it down and over toward the opposite foot. Then swing it back up along the same path. Do that several times, and switch sides. Make sure you use your legs and hips to help keep your back from bending too much.

* Saxon Bends. These are tough. Take that ball again, or a weight plate if you need more weight, and hold it over your head. Now bend over to one side, without bending your back from front to back. You're just going side to side. When you've gone as far over as you can, head on over to the other side. Back to center again is one.

You can use these exercises as either a great warmup or cooldown (sort of) for your regular weight training routine. Or, why not devote a whole workout to core strengthening exercises from time to time; the change will do you good.