What Exactly is Core Strength?

When most people think about their "core", they usually think about their abdominal muscles. There is, however, much more to a person’s core than just their abs. The core includes the muscles that help stabilise your body and balance; these include the abdominal muscles, lower back muscles, hip muscles and the pelvic floor muscles. These core muscles all work together to give you the control needed for proper body positioning and body control, making it easier for you to move safely in all areas of your life. A strong core will help you maintain better balance, decrease your back pain, and improve your overall performance in workouts.



For those just starting out, focusing on core stability training helps establish proper movement patterns before progressing to more advanced exercises. A strong core acts as a centre of power for your entire body.

Getting Started The Right Way

For beginners who want success with core-strengthening exercises, the main things to concentrate on are proper technique and starting out slowly. You do not want to rush through these exercises and do them carelessly – instead, concentrate on taking your time with each exercise and using controlled movement when doing each one of them. When doing so, you will recruit the appropriate muscles effectively. Additionally, pay close attention to your breathing: exhale on the hardest part of each exercise and be able to breathe evenly during the workout.

HIIT West Hampstead encourages beginners to focus on doing fewer sets with better form and technique rather than trying to do more reps with poor form. It is better to have shorter but consistent workouts than to have a session of very long workouts with poor technique.

Essential Core Strength Exercises

To provide a balanced beginner’s workout to develop the core, all regions of the core need to be included in a beginner programme. Some good examples of a beginner's core workout include:

• Plank Holds – A great exercise to engage your full core and improve both endurance and postural strength.
• Dead Bugs – An excellent exercise for learning how to properly coordinate the arms and legs while keeping the body stabilised in a neutral position.
• Glute Bridges – An excellent way to strengthen the lower back and hips, as well as stabilise the pelvis.
• Bird Dogs – This exercise is very helpful in developing balance as well as assisting with developing control of the core during movement.

All of these core strengthening exercises can be modified based on your individual level of fitness, allowing a beginner to progressively build strength.

Progressing Safely and Effectively

Once you've developed more confidence in performing core workouts, you'll start to want to increase the challenge of those exercises. You can do this by:

- Extending your hold times 

- Adding more reps

- Incorporating light resistance 

When progressing to a more challenging version of a core strength exercise, always remember to do so gradually. Beginners often make the mistake of trying to increase the difficulty of a core exercise too quickly. This can lead to an increased risk of injury and also create poor movement patterns.

By consistently performing core strength exercises 2-3 times a week, your body is allowed to adjust to the increased load, thus minimising the chance of injury.

By incorporating your core strength workouts into your overall full-body training programme, you create an increased degree of strength and improved coordination between all muscle groups.

Core Training for Everyday Life

Developing a strong core will make you feel better equipped to do all the things that you do in everyday life outside of the gym.

Carrying groceries, sitting at your desk, etc., all require the use of your core, so when you perform core strengthening exercises on a regular basis as a beginner, you will also develop better posture, balance, and confidence in your ability to move around day-to-day.

At HIIT West Hampstead, our experienced trainers will support you every step of the way as you work to create strong and healthy core habits to use in your everyday life, not just during your workout.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days should a beginner train their core?

The recommended amount for training the core is two to three times a week. This provides sufficient stimulus to the muscles in order to build strength as well as allow for recovery time.

Can a beginner do core strength training without equipment?

Yes, there are many types of core strength training that are fully accessible and usable for beginners. Many exercises use just your body weight as resistance, so no equipment is needed.

How long should a beginner's core training session last?

A session of focused core training for a beginner can be performed within a period of 15 to 25 minutes. The success of the workout depends on performing all exercises using good form and control at all times.

Does core training reduce lower back pain?

When core stability training is completed correctly, it will stabilise the spine and lower the risk of experiencing lower back discomfort.

Is core training suitable for complete beginners?

Yes, it is absolutely possible for complete beginners to begin doing core-strengthening exercises. With guidance through the process of learning and preparing to progress, the exercises will be safe for them to do.

By focusing on maintaining regular training for a core workout, using good form and control while performing all the exercises, and taking progress gradually, beginner athletes can develop a solid foundation of core strength that will benefit their fitness goals as well as their day-to-day lives. For structured guidance and expert assistance, HIIT West Hampstead has beginner-level training available to assist you with building strength and improving your overall comfort in movement as well as preventing injury.

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