Core Exercises

Core exercises are very beneficial. Possibly the most beneficial for overall health.

See, the core is not just about your abs and having a six-pack. (You can have super strong abs and not have a six-pack, so don't worry.)

The core is about your abs, obliques, hip flexors, upper and lower back, and some other muscles you've probably never heard of.

Having a strong core helps you to do just about anything - walking around or lifting boxes becomes easier with a strong core.

If you're a cyclist, your core is the platform for your legs to pound the pedals. Your leg muscles will only carry you so far without a stable base to work against.

That said, let's look at some core exercises...

There are a variety of core workouts out there, some easy and some that are quite challenging.

When I started, muscles that I didn't know I had got sore! Starting out slow is probably a good idea.

Get started with some of these:

Some good core exercises

Stability ball exercises

OK, enough with the basics?

Now it's time for advanced poses along and maybe advanced workout DVDs. If you're getting into this, I suggest getting some instructional DVDs or even taking some classes (although they're a lot more expensive than the DVDs.)

One program I love is the Cyclo-Core set from Graeme Street. It totally changed my fitness regimen. There are also some power yoga DVDs by Rodney Yee.

Take a look at the "workout reviews" section to get an idea of which workout is right for you.