Are Your Core Exercises Causing Excessive Tension In Your Belly? Read This And Check For Yourself!

Following up on a conversation I was having recently with a neighbour... and never managed to finish!
Is your regular class or workout leaving you with chronically tight abdominal muscles?
Check your abdomen for any residual tension. Are you able to release all tension when on hands and knees?

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A strong muscle is a muscle that can fully relax and that can engage the amount needed for the task, no more. A muscles that is permanently switched on is NOT a strong muscle.
You wouldn't consciously contract your biceps before picking up your cup of tea, would you? Why should it be any different when it comes to your abs?
The first thing to do for your core is to become aware of your ribcage being forward of your pelvis, taking your rectus abdominis with it, keeping this muscle in a permanently stretched position (two ends further away than their "home" attachments).

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The second thing to do is to focus on fully relaxing your belly, every little bit of it. Where do you think the contents of your abdomen goes when you squeeze your tummy in? It has to go somewhere, doesn't it? It can either go up pushing through your diaphragm into your chest OR down pushing against your pelvic floor. Just let it be.

The third is to learn to start aligning your bones so your muscles are in a better place to do their jobs.

The fourth is to learn to relax and move all the stuck parts that keep your ribcage from aligning with your pelvis, including all the stuck parts that take your ribcage with them when they move - arms, legs, pelvis.
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If you would like to know more, feel free to get in touch.