Core Workout Class
I went to a ‘Core Class’ at Columbia Athletic Club the other
day with my husband. It is just 25
minutes long, but the whole class is focused on core strength and abs.
I was skeptical of course, because I am a firm believer in
the idea that you can't ‘spot reduce’, but I wanted to try to give it a chance. I feel like the people who go to this
class are thinking it will give them a flat tummy or abs. It will not!!!! If your intention is to just engage your core
as a focus then I suppose it is worth it as a suppliment to another workout...still not really sure.
There was a 5 min ‘warm up’ to kind of stretch and get your
muscles warm…there isn’t really time for much more then that so it was a good
attempt, but sort of pointless in my opinion.
Then we did some floor work…
- · Legs lifted a few inches off the ground and fluttering the hands up and down similar to what they do in Pilates
- · Single leg V-Ups or Scissor Kicks kind of, again it was a little hard for me to figure out what these moves were really doing for me…but I tried to follow
- ·
Push up position…knees to opposite elbow – the
only exercise that really felt like it was working me hard to the point of
fatigue
- · Rest - Stretch
- · Into Circuit 2 which was very similar to circuit 1 it just was bicycles and plank rocks for 30 seconds or so each
Here is my frustration to classes like this…it is not
actually doing anything. Just movement camouflaged
as a workout to try and convince its participants that they will see some kind
of result. I don’t even think that
anyone would leave that class with a stronger core in any way and they
certainly wont leave with a flat stomach or abs.
It is a shame, because I think that is one of the biggest
problems with all these fitness ‘trends’…it is often just a way to pretend you
are working out without actually having to workout.
The best measure to a good workout is what do the people who
are doing it look like and what does your trainer do for a workout? If it isn’t that class or that particular
workout, then it is time to save your money and your time and do what they are
doing.
Our bodies are designed to do movements that simulate
hunting and gathering and working for our food and shelter….so use your body that
way. ‘Athletic Ability’ has very little
to do with it…balance, coordination, and endurance are all achievable skills. Some have better natural abilities then others, however everyone
has the ability to have it at some level if they are WILLING TO WORK FOR IT!!!
