A New Approach To Core Stability

Woo hoo! Its Finally Here!

After I took our old core stability book off the market almost 18 months ago, we have had so many dancers and teachers patiently waiting for the new version to be released, and now it’s finally ready! I wanted to review the resource as so much has changed in the research and development of training stability of our spine, and I always want every one of our resources to be sharing the latest knowledge available. So while the old one was good, this one is even better.

By far one of the major problem areas that we see as therapists working with dancers, athletes, office workers and weekend warriors alike is in the the area of “Core Stability.” The issues we see are two-fold. On one hand, very few people have good natural core control and dynamic stability of the spine. The second is that many of the exercises that people are taught to do do not address the real issue. Lack of true stability of the spine leads to over compensation by other structures which leads to many of the injuries that we see in the clinic. This is especially true for young dancers who are training specific movements over and over again.

Are you still doing traditional stability exercises?

The latest research shows this could be doing more harm than good!

Many dancers, athletes and other individuals who have been involved in Personal Training, Physio or Pilates classes are performing “core” exercises that may focus too much on control or restricting movement by bracing. Often we discover that the very exercises that individuals are using to try and better themselves are actually part of the problem. Over recruitment of muscles can cause just as many, if not more issues, than weakness in muscles, and this often happens when individuals have been formally taught how to move. In addition, many people perform their stability exercises lying on their back, which does not prepare them for the demands of sitting, standing and dancing!

What is needed is a radical rethink of what ‘core stability’ actually is, and a new approach to training stability in dancers which is built up over the years. When addressing core stability when there is an issue with mobility or pain in older dancers, we need to make a careful assessment of each individuals movement strategies, isolate their specific weaknesses and a develop a carefully considered retraining program to retrain optimal stability.

The focus in training core stability has evolved from a focus on control, maintaining neutral and restricting movement, to tapping into the natural deep stabilising systems of the human body, and reprogramming them to allow a fluidly stable, dynamic core. This allows greater relaxation of the outer movement muscles, relieving much of the pain experienced by dancers and office workers alike.

When we ask most dancers what they do for their ‘core training’ we get the common reply of “Planks, Sit-ups and Crunches”. These exercises are not necessarily “bad” exercises, however the problem is in the  way they are performed if the individual lacks the control to do them properly. Also, if they are not  movements that are a part of our normal movement in daily life, then excessive training of them can lead to altered movement patterns when it matters most! Training your stability should be done in accordance with what you actually have to do in life, whether that is sitting in an office, lifting a three year old, or performing a Grand pas de deux in a Classical Ballet. This program aims to give you a completely new approach to the development of core stability in your own body, whether you are young a dance student, a professional dancer, an office worker or a keen athlete.  I aim to give you an insight into the nature of true core stability and how it can be developed naturally over the years, rather than with the onset of problems and pain.

The most important factor in staying vibrant, vital, happy, healthy, and physically capable as we age is stability of our spine. If we are intrinsically more mobile, or spent many hours training in our youth; learning how to correctly stabilise our own spine can give us greater insight into how to train our students. As the demand on dancers increases through challenging choreography, acrobatics being included in dance, and ever increasing ranges of motion becoming ‘normal’, effective and specific training is becoming more and more essential into the long term health of our dancers.

Using a combination of exercises to naturally facilitate the subtle deep core muscles, and a clearly laid out grid to help guide your training through 5 different positions and 5 different grades, our “New Approach To Core Stability” program will teach you how to have a dynamically stable spine throughout your life, no matter what you do during the day.

This kind of stability is essential for resolving chronic back pain, but also has the added benefits of allowing greater spinal mobility and flexibility through the whole body, as many muscles that have been previously overused can relax.

This program approaches Core Stability training in a completely new way. Using a simple visual chart comprising of 5 different positions(Lying, Side Lying, 4 Point, Sitting and Standing) and 5 different grades, you can work your way through the entire program at your own pace, layering levels of stability to achieve ultimate dynamic control of the spine and pelvis. We work on rediscovering the body’s own intelligence, and rebuilding the natural layers of stability that many of us fail to build as infants and young children. This logical and strategic process allows you to develop your own individual training program within the framework of a structured course, and will also give you unlimited options for variations, once you understand the principles.

Take the next step in your own professional and personal development, and share the jewels that I have discovered in this area of training!

Remember that all our prices are in Australian Dollars – so go to www.xe.com to work out how much in your local currency!

Currently $50 AUD = Approximately $36.50 USD

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