Last updated: December 21, 2023
What Does
Core Stability Mean?
Core stability is a term that describes the stretch and control of the muscles around the abdomen and back that provides a base for the movement of other parts of the body. In yoga, core stability is key for proper alignment and balance in asana practice. Many yoga poses also build core stability. In general, a strong and stable core prevents injury, speeds rehabilitation from injury and improves performance in all types of sports.
The major muscle groups that comprise the core are the transversus abdominis (transverse abdominal muscle/the deepest abdominal muscle), the multifidis (deep back muscles), the diaphragm and the pelvic floor.
Yogapedia Explains Core Stability
A key component of yoga – the breath – is also key to the control of the core muscles. Breathing significantly affects the movement of the core, and proper breathing will enhance yoga poses and other core-stabilizing exercises.
Yoga asanas that build core stability are numerous and include:
- Any of the variety of plank poses, including dolphin plank, side plank and the full version of plank pose.
- Boat, low boat and upward boat pose
- Chair pose and its variations
- Any of a variety of leg lifts, including side leg lift and leg extensions
- Locust pose
- Warrior III
- Balancing table pose
During These Times of Stress and Uncertainty Your Doshas May Be Unbalanced.
To help you bring attention to your doshas and to identify what your predominant dosha is, we created the following quiz.
Try not to stress over every question, but simply answer based off your intuition. After all, you know yourself better than anyone else.