Work These 4 Core-Blasting Moves Into Your Next Yoga Practice
There are so many reasons to build a strong core that go beyond just the visual aspects — your core muscles help with your balance and stability, improve your posture, and help prevent back pain. And as the key driver for daily movement, it’s important to train your core frequently to keep you feeling strong and supported.
If you’ve taken one of Ashley Galvin’s strength classes, you already know she’s the queen of core work. If a strong and stable core is what you’re after, try one (or all!) of these fiery, core-blasting moves the next time you hit the mat, and practice one of her favorite core sequences on Alo Moves here.
1. FOREARM SIDE PLANK DIPS
Come to forearm plank and rest on your right forearm, opening up to the left side of the mat. Stack your feet, stack your hips, and stack your shoulders. Place your top hand on your top hip. Begin to dip your right hip down to the mat, then lift it back up. Lift and lower 10 times, then repeat on the other side.
2. TWISTED NAVASANA
Start in low boat pose and come to balance on your right hip, hovering your left hip off the mat and twisting your upper body to the left. With your heels up and knees to the right, crunch up and reach to the left, drawing your knees to your right shoulder. Repeat on the other side for 10 times on each side.
3. REVERSE CRUNCHES + CRISSCROSS
Come onto your back and take your legs straight up to the sky. Your hands can support under your neck or be at your side. Lift your hips off the mat five times (reverse crunches), then lower your legs to hover off the mat and crisscross your legs five times. Repeat this sequence 10 times.
4. STEEPLE GRIP CORE PULSES
Start in a low boat pose with your legs and shoulders hovering off the mat, core engaged. Interlace your fingers and release your pointer fingers out to form a steeple grip with your hands. Crunch your left knee in toward your chest and keep your right leg extended out in front of you. Keeping your lower body strong and stable, crunch your upper body up and pulse 10 times. Switch legs and repeat on the other side.
Practice the full core sequence with Ashley Galvin here on Alo Moves.