Sublimely Fit

Creating a healthier, more satisfying life.

  • Home
  • About
    • About Beth
    • About Sublimely Fit
      • Affiliations
      • Disclosure
  • Yoga for Runners
    • Free Guide! Hip Openers for Runners
    • Book
    • Yoga for Runners Course
    • Blog Posts
    • Running
      • Running for Beginners
      • Free Training Plans
      • Training Tips
      • Fueling + Nutrition
      • Gear Reviews
  • Yoga
    • Free Yoga Jump Start
    • Yoga for Beginners
    • Yoga Sequences
    • Yoga Poses
    • Mindfulness
  • Soul
    • Mental Health
    • Self Love
    • Body Image
    • Motivation
    • Goal Setting
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Smoothies
    • Snacks
  • Store

Core Strengthening Yoga Poses

06.04.15

Having good core strength is so important to help maintain good posture and to protect your spine. However, if you don’t actively work your core, it’s easy to lose core strength. These core strengthening yoga poses will help you keep your core strong, which will help you not only in practicing more advanced yoga poses like arm balances. These poses are also great for sports that require good core strength like running.

Core strengthening yoga poses: yoga poses that will help you keep a strong core

Disclaimer: I am a yoga teacher, but I’m not your yoga teacher. Always practice yoga mindfully, listen to your body, and if you have any questions, consult with your teacher.

FREE Hip Openers for Runners Guide

Sweet relief for your tight, sore hips!

Get the best hip-opening yoga poses sent straight to your inbox.

Plank Pose

Core strengthening yoga poses: plank pose

Many people think of plank when they think of core strengthening yoga poses. It’s a wonderful pose for the core because it helps to make the muscles all the way around the core stronger. If you’re not strong enough to hold a full plank, you can start with keeping your knees on the ground and work up from there. Stay on your forearms in dolphin plank if you have bad wrists.

Side Plank

Core strengthening yoga poses: side plank

Side plank also helps work the entire core, but puts a greater emphasis on the obliques. You should lift your hips as high as you can, which will really help target the obliques. Until you work up to full side plank, you can keep your bottom knee on the floor. If you have bad wrists, either keep your knee on the floor, or if you have both legs lifted, you can come to the forearm of your supporting arm.

Boat Pose

Core strengthening yoga poses: boat pose

Boat is really good for keeping your abs strong, although you will work your entire core in this pose. If you’re starting out, keep your knees bent at a tabletop position and you can lightly grip behind your thighs with your hands until you’re strong enough to hold your arms out.

Knee to Nose

Core strengthening yoga poses: knee to nose

This downward facing dog modification is great for strengthening the core. You should really focus on contracting through the core as you bring your knee forward to meet your nose. You can play around with taking the knee to either elbow to work different parts of your abs.

Locust Pose

Core strengthening yoga poses: locust pose

Locust Pose is fantastic for strengthening your lower back. If you do a lot of abdominal exercises, it’s also important to work the lower back so that the muscles on the front and back sides of your body don’t become imbalanced. Lift the upper and lower body higher to intensify, or stay lower if you need to modify.

How often do you strengthen your core?
What’s your favorite way to work your core?

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

« Happy National Running Day!
Five Friday Faves #36 »

Comments

  1. Susie @ SuzLyfe says

    06.04.15 at 9:27 AM

    Thank you for including the lower back! Such an important part of your core, and so often neglected. I’m also a big fan of cobra to floor bow to locust.

  2. Julie @ Running in a Skirt says

    06.04.15 at 10:33 AM

    These are all my favorites!!! Great post!

  3. EB @ Running on E says

    06.04.15 at 11:25 AM

    Yes! This is exactly what I was looking for. I had been thinking about adding new core moves to my routine. Perfect. Thanks for sharing. And your arms/shoulders look so strong in your plank!

  4. Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says

    06.04.15 at 11:45 AM

    Having a strong core is so important. I’m glad you posted about this!

  5. Suzy says

    06.04.15 at 11:58 AM

    Look at that gun show! Do you get those arms from yoga? Or do you also lift weights? WOW!

  6. Kristen says

    06.04.15 at 3:50 PM

    Thanks for this post! I need to do more of these for sure, especially as a runner.

  7. Jess@Flying Feet says

    06.04.15 at 3:57 PM

    I practice all of these poses at least once a week. I really swear by yoga for not only core strength, but also for overall strength and stability!! Thanks for the great post. Definitely sharing. 🙂

  8. Jess @hellotofit says

    06.05.15 at 7:13 AM

    Beth, I just love all of your posts!! These are great core strengthening exercises for yoga and life. I especially have been loving the knee to nose. Happy Friday!

Trackbacks

  1. Link Love - says:
    06.09.15 at 6:16 AM

    […] //The best yoga poses for the best core.  Strengthen your core with this series. […]

hello image sublimely fit

Hi, I'm Dr. Beth Brombosz! I'm a yoga teacher, running coach, and writer living in Oklahoma. I would love to help you create a healthier, more satisfying life. Join me on the journey!

beth (at) sublimelyfit.com
facebook twitter pinterest instagram bloglovin

 

FREE HIP OPENERS FOR RUNNERS GUIDE!

Search

Yoga for Runners Book

Yoga for Runners Book and eBook Bundle

Like Sublimely Fit on Facebook

Like Sublimely Fit on Facebook

Disclaimer

Sublimely Fit is a personal blog and all opinions are my own. I am not a medical professional. Please follow the advice of your doctor first and foremost. Although my intent is to do no harm, if you are injured following my opinion or something you have read here, I am not responsible. I am not responsible for comments written by others. Disrespectful or profane comments may be deleted. Privacy: I will never sell your email address or other information. Click here for the full privacy policy.

POPULAR POSTS

  • Easy Blueberry Green Smoothie Recipe
  • Sick Day Yoga
  • Foot Stretches: Yoga Poses for Feet
  • Ten Steps to Bird of Paradise Pose
  • How Long Should You Hold Yoga Poses?
  • The 3 Things You Must Do to Run Faster
  • Speed Work for Distance Runners
  • The 5 Stages of Marathon Training
  • What is a Tempo Run and Why Should I Do Them?
  • Monday Motivation #22

Calendar

January 2021
S M T W T F S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« May    

Copyright © 2021 · by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.