Strengthening the core improves balance and stability, which supports movement and physical performance, experts say.While traditional abdominal exercises can be effective, one yoga pose may offer added benefits.Boat pose, or Navasana, forms the body into a "V" and challenges multiple muscles involved in core stability.Melissa Leach, a certified yoga instructor and strength and conditioning coach in Philadelphia, said a strong core provides a foundation for both exercise and everyday movement.FITNESS EXPERTS REVEALS SIMPLE RULE TO GET IN SHAPE WITHOUT DREADING THE GYM: 'JUST MOVE'"Ab exercises help support that by strengthening key muscles such as the obliques, lower back, and deep stabilizers like the transverse abdominis," she told Fox News Digital.A yoga instructor demonstrates a boat pose.
(Yoga-Go)"Together, these muscles work to stabilize your spine, creating a strong foundation for movement and allowing you to transfer force more efficiently between your upper and lower body."Many routine activities, from carrying groceries to getting up from a chair, engage the core muscles to stabilize the trunk, maintain balance and support controlled movement.PEOPLE ARE USING VIBRATION PLATES FOR WEIGHT LOSS: DO THEY WORK?A strong core can also help reduce the risk of lower back pain by improving stability in the spine and ensuring control during lifting and other physically demanding movements, the expert said."While injury risk isn’t determined by core strength alone, a well-conditioned core provides a stable foundation for movement in everyday life," she noted.Many routine activities, from carrying groceries to getting up from a chair, engage the core muscles to stabilize the trunk, maintain balance and support controlled movement.(iStock)Boat pose challenges the ab muscles while also engaging the hip flexors, glutes and back, according to Leach.
This helps to build functional core strength rather than just targeting a single muscle group.Compared to the traditiona...