Ready to optimize your core work? Get real about the engineering of your body and work from neutral. But how do you know you’re working from neutral? The body easily forgets where center is, so use this Pro Tip to find the right position and maximize every minute on the mat.
Read MoreYour core is your powerhouse. It moves you forward, stabilizes your spine, protects you from injury, and so much more. And when we train it in a way that supports the engineering of our bodies, it makes everything work better — kind of like an internal connecting of the dots. It lights us up from the inside out.
Meet our new core videos!
Read MoreWhen it comes to your core, your back and front body should be equally strong...
Read MoreWhen it comes to your core, your backside is just as important as your front, and striking a balance between the two is what will help you to get the most power from your powerhouse.
Read MoreYou’ve got some fundamentals, now lets add some strength. This week is all about your running powerhouses: your core and booty…
Read MoreAnyone else out there a bit bored of planking? It's hard, yes, but also a little bland. So, our challenge to you this week: find something to plank on outside every day. Adding an incline (shown above) or decline (just the opposite) will work your muscles in different ways, increasing your strength and keeping things more interesting...
Read MoreWe’re pretty forward-oriented in most things we do. But while you’re busy trying to get from point A to point B, the sides of the body can become pretty sleepy. When the muscles on the sides of your body are weak, they can’t do their job to keep areas like your hips and core stable. As a result, your posture and form will suffer, regardless of your sport or activity… especially when you’re tired.
Read MoreWhen it comes to total body strengthening, plank is like a one-stop shop; it strengthens all your structures and works the body as the integrated unit it’s designed to be. So, if you’re interested in getting strong this summer, make this fundamental pose a part of your daily routine. Set a timer for 30 seconds and build up to several minutes! Don’t forget to breathe deeply…
Read MoreSpoiler alert: we’ll be doing a lot of planking this month to keep boosting your core strength. But first, let’s work one of the most commonly overlooked and misplaced areas of your body that's fundamental not only to plank, but any weight bearing exercise…
Read MoreIt’s easy to default to arm strength and momentum when it’s time to twist, but your core (obliques, specifically) should be responsible for rotating your trunk on the axis of your spine. The best way to practice this is to slow down significantly, stabilize your lower body, and make this obliques do all the work. Here’s a great way to make all that happen...
Read MoreWhether you realize it or not, “core” includes your back. Unfortunately, while in hot pursuit of a six-pack, many people neglect to work the super important muscles that stabilize the spine and help to keep you upright.
Read MoreYour mid spine is the most mobile part of your back. While it is indeed built to move, unless you counter that flexibility with strength, you risk becoming too flexible in this area, which is just as bad as not being flexible enough, and will increase your risk of back pain and injury.
Read MoreWe're kicking off a month of core work!
First thing's first: lets start crunching smarter. The fact is, none of us need help rounding forward, because we're already there. Most traditional core work (crunches in particular) further reinforces the floppy posture we already default to as a result of excess sitting, which stiffens your chest, overstretches your upper back, and allows your core to go to sleep.
Read MoreEarlier this month, we worked on Half Moon Prep to get you ready for Half Moon, one of our fave hip strengtheners. Lets face it: most of us are pretty forward-oriented in our movement. We walk, run, cycle, and we all sit... a lot. One of the reasons why Half Moon is so powerful is because it moves your body outside those habitual movement patterns, which forces the muscles that stabilize your hips and, ultimately, add power to your stride, to wake up and do their job.
Read MoreContinue your cross-training late this winter with Half Moon Prep — one of our fave poses for building hip strengthen and stability. This shape forces you to work beyond your usual range of motion, which is key for keeping your hip muscles (not to mention your core) that aren't so intimately involved with walking/running/cycling/sitting awake. And, ultimately, keeping your hip stabilizers alert and strong will help you to prevent injuries and add power to your forward-oriented movement.
Read MoreOne of the things we love most about winter is that it’s a great time to cross-train — to mix up your training and create balance that will support you when it's go time. Yoga builds functional — practical — flexibility and strength because it works the body as an integrated unit. This, ultimately, helps to optimize your performance in any sport or workout. So, as we head into a new year, embrace the nasty weather outside as an opportunity to roll out your mat inside and set the tone for a balanced 2015.
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