Core stability does not seem like the most exciting area for fitness, but it is the foundation of the question that Personal Trainers are asked most often.

How can I get a flat stomach?

The other areas we are often asked about are “I want my waist back”, and “I want a six pack” and even “I want to get rid of my back problems”.

You guessed it – all these problems are connected to your core stability.

Core stability means you have strength and endurance in the core of your body i.e. strength from the centre. This is essential for good performance at many sports and stamina related activities, but is also important for everyday life. Very often the problems of back ache are simply to do with weak muscles and poor core stability.

Your torso includes your abdomen, back and even the muscles in your buttocks. There is much more to torso training than the abdominal crunches that we all know so well and find so difficult!

Core training with Diane involves firstly looking at your posture and doing exercises to correct any deviance from the ideal. It involves work on abdominals, back, deep torso muscles, and the hips and glutes. Balance and control with slow movements are often key to strengthening these areas.

The stability ball is typically used to help develop core stability.

Many days of work are lost through back pain. Learning to use your core properly can save you from a multitude of aches and pains as well as days off work. And as a bonus you will have a better defined waist, and move with more ease.

Misunderstandings about Core Stability.

1. Performing abdominal exercises can reduce abdominal fat
Sorry, not true. The muscles of the abs can be toned in this way but fat cannot be reduced in a specific location only. A general fat loss programme needs to be considered…which would include all kinds of exercise.

2. If I do abs exercises, will I get a 6 pack?
Not necessarily. Your overall level of body fat and the prominence and arrangement of the various muscles will all play a part. If you reduce your level of body fat and tone your abs they may well be more defined but genetics also play a role in how they look.

3. If I anchor my feet will I do more effective sit-ups?
No … and this is really important. The anchoring allows other muscles the excuse to not work so hard to get you up. People often think anchoring is the answer but it is not.

4. Are abs machines effective?
They look glamorous but they are actually not as effective as doing the exercises on your own. The trouble is that abs machines can lock your feet down which is no good as mentioned above, and they encourage you to pull with your arms and use a rocking motion. None of this is working the abs.

Ask Diane any question about restoring your torso to fitness and leanness. Your core fitness might not be the most exciting of workouts but is one of the most important areas to consider.