Core, Engaged?
“Engage your core!” You’ve heard it a million times. But what does it mean? “The Core” isn’t a single anatomical structure, but rather a concept or a system, whose role is complex and integral to many different functions in the human body. To understand “core engagement,” we first need to define what this system actually is (hint: it’s not just your abs), which allows us to begin answering the question of what, actually, is engaging, and when? (Hint: it’s NOT every muscle, all the time!)
This workshop explores the interconnected roles of core musculoskeletal anatomy, respiration, and intraabdominal pressure to reveal why “engage your core” is a useless — and worse, confusing and even functionally counterproductive — cue, and to explore much more constructive alternatives. By understanding and honoring the complexity of this region, we can leverage the relationship between musculature and breath to improve its dynamic stability, function, and responsiveness.