Core Stabilization : Strengthening Exercises for Posture and Dance
By Ma * Shuqa Mira Murjan
Photos by Carl F . Sermon Photography
What is core stabilization ? The spine itself is just bones stacked on top of one another , and in between the bones — to cushion them — are small discs . The core of each disc has the texture of cheese , and it is surrounded by tough fibrous tissue . To make the spine more stable , the parts are all connected with layers of soft tissue such as cartilage and ligaments . They are also connected by muscles . If these muscles are strong and working in the proper order , you have a solid base for movement and for absorbing the impact of the ground through your body .
The main muscles involved in core stabilization are deep muscles such as the transverse abdominus , the multifidus , and the muscles of the pelvic floor . The transverse abdominus is like a corset around your abdomen . It ’ s the muscle you work if you pull in your stomach . The multifidus is a muscle that lies along your spine from your neck to your pelvis , with short fibers connecting one bone ( vertebra ) of the spine to other vertebrae near it . The muscles of the pelvic floor are most noticeable when you squeeze to keep yourself from urinating ( Kegeles exercise ).
52 The Belly Dance Chronicles � May 2021