Core support can be much easier than you think.

Core support is important because it protects all the joints in your body – especially the more delicate ones in your limbs that are more prone to injury. Beneficial core support, however, does not stiffen your torso, compress your organ spaces, or make breathing difficult.

Rotational movement is the easiest way to access beneficial core support, contrary to all of the crunches and sit-ups you see folks doing.

There are so many fitness and embodiment practices that emphasize core support, and in one way I think they are totally right about how important it is. For me, what it means is a liveliness, strength, and expansiveness in our torso, or central body.

That means front, sides, and back of the body, not just the front body. All musculature wraps around your torso three dimensionally in spirals, except for the “six pack” of your abs. Even those are access with rotational movement, though!

Anatomists call this part of you “the axial skeleton,” or head, neck, and trunk, when talking about the bones. The limbs are the “appendicular skeleton” and interestingly, most anatomy texts include the pelvis as part of the appendicular skeleton, not the axial skeleton.

The way we layer concepts over our bodies via words and maps has a huge effect on how we move and understand our bodies.

That’s why the idea of core support flowing in spirals is so needed! The easiest way I’ve found to access core support is through coordinated rotation of the head, shoulders, ribs, and pelvis.

It’s very important to understand that the pelvis rotates over your femoral head at the hip joint. Your pelvis does not just flex and extend at the hip joint, it turns or rotates.

That rotational movement doesn’t just stop at your pelvic floor. The rotational forces need to connect down through your legs to your feet; otherwise, you will tend to immobilize certain joints (often hip joints) and injure others (often knee joints).

Head, neck, torso, legs and feet are all interconnected and can be activated in a beneficial, expansive way through simple movements like turning towards a desired direction while shifting weight.

But don’t just take my word for it – try the exploration in the video and let me know how it goes!