Condition the core; unleash the potential. Serious athletes train for results—results that make them winners on the field, pitch, course, or court. And the key to getting those results, to improving performance in any sport and at any level, is no secret. A strong, well-conditioned core is the lynchpin to athletic success. In Conditioning to the Core, strength and conditioning coaches Greg Brittenham and Daniel Taylor deliver the definitive guide to training the torso. Inside, you’ll learn these concepts: - The core’s central role in originating and transferring strength and power, two requirements for superior performance - The energy systems, the strength and power foundations, and the movement mechanics for any sport - Over 300 of the most effective exercises for strength, stability, and power - The way to design a comprehensive program based on athlete assessment and analysis, followed by several sport-specific sample programs for reference Detailed photo sequences and expert instruction ensure you’re performing each exercise safely and efficiently. Color-coded stability, strength, and power training exercises, programs, and assessments provide all the tools for achieving high-performance goals. You will quickly identify and organize each component that addresses your needs, your sport, and your high-performance goals. If you are serious about performance, Conditioning to the Core will help you get serious results. Whether you’re an athlete, trainer, or coach, this guide should be the centerpiece of your sport training program.

Gentle ways to improve the horse’s core fitness while relieving pain related to conditions such as kissing spine. Every equestrian wants to know: what is the difference between the horse that “dances” when you are on him, and the one that doesn’t? According to Visconte Simon Cocozza, Trainer and Examiner for the La Fédération Française d'Equitation (FFE), it all comes down to the horse’s posture. The horse’s ability to use the powerful mechanisms already built into his body relies not upon the strength we can see on the outside but the strength on the inside. This invisible and complex arrangement of internal “core” muscles control the horse’s posture, suppleness, and agility. Their good condition is the key to the dance. Equine core muscles are very difficult to isolate with the traditional training techniques common to horse sports. However, by examining what we do with the human body when faced with a weak core, we can find new methods for conditioning these areas of the equine body. Cocozza has taken principles of the human practice of yoga and used them to develop novel ways of reaching deep within the horse’s body and: Gently “unlock” areas that may be a little “rusty.” Improve core fitness. And even relieve pain related to conditions such as kissing spine. In this highly illustrated book, he provides step-by-step instruction explaining easy mounted exercises that enhance the horse’s posture, and boost his confidence in his body and movement, making him easier to ride, and ultimately, the dance partner you’ve always imagined.

From the author of the national bestseller The Complete Book of Abs comes the definitive book on the Next Big Thing in fitness -- core training From the bestselling author of The Complete Book of Abs comes this comprehensive guide to a new movement in fitness: core training. The body's "core" refers to the muscles that comprise the center of your body: the muscles of the abdomen, lower back, butt, and hips. With the increasing popularity of yoga and Pilates -- both of which depend on strong core muscles -- the fitness community has turned its focus from the abs to the core. The Brungardt brothers simple 9-week program is based on over 100 exercises and includes workouts appropriate for beginners and fitness enthusiasts alike. This book will help men and women of all body types and fitness levels to strengthen their core for better mobility, posture, and physique. Get ready to get fit!

Tom Danielson’s Core Advantage offers a simple, highly effective core strength program for cyclists. This comprehensive approach shows the 50 essential core workout exercises that will build strength and endurance in the key core muscles for cycling--no gym membership required. Professional cyclist Tom Danielson used to have a bad back. He shifted in the saddle, never comfortable, often riding in pain. Hearing that core strength could help his back, he started doing crunches, which made matters worse. He turned to personal trainer Allison Westfahl for a new approach. Danielson and Westfahl developed all-new core exercises to build core strength specifically for cycling, curing Danielson’s back problems. Better yet, Danielson found that stronger core muscles boosted his pedaling efficiency and climbing power. Using Danielson’s core exercises, cyclists of all abilities will enjoy faster, pain-free riding. Cyclists will perform simple exercises using their own body weight to build strength in the low back, hips, abs, chest, and shoulders without adding unwanted bulk and without weights, machines, or a gym membership. Each Core Advantage exercise complements the motions of riding a bike so cyclists strengthen the right muscles that stabilize and support the body, improving efficiency and reducing the fatigue that can lead to overuse injuries and pain in the back, neck, and shoulders. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced training plans will help bike racers, century riders, and weekend warriors to build core strength throughout the season. Each plan features warm-up stretches and 15 core exercises grouped into workouts for injury resistance, better posture, improved stability and bike handling, endurance, and power. Westfahl explains the goal for each exercise, which Danielson models in clear photographs. Riding a bike takes more than leg strength. Now Tom Danielson’s Core Advantage lays out the core strengthening routines that enable longer, faster rides.

Stay young with effective, efficient core strength training that will enhance your spine’s stability and re-educate correct muscle activation patterns. From swinging a golf club to carrying a bag of groceries, the core is everything. Balance, agility and youthful stature are just a few of the benefits of a toned and powerful midsection. Core Strength for fifty+ has everything you need to: Improve posture Enhance sports performance Guarantee low back health Avoid injury With workouts ranging from basic mat work routines to unstable training with foam rollers and stability balls, Core Strength for 50+ provides more than 75 exercises that build and maintain strong muscles in the abs, obliques, lower back and butt.

Building good core strength is key to fitness, helping to improve mobility, correcting poor posture, and reducing the risk of injury. Featuring more than 150 exercises and a range of specially commissioned programs designed for a wide range of activities, sports, and goals, The Complete Core Strength offers everything you need to get the very best results from your workouts.

Conditioning to the Core is a complete guide to training the torso for elite athletic performance. Color-coded stability, strength, and power training exercises, programs, and assessments provide all the tools for achieving high-performance goals. Full-color anatomical art and demonstration photos show how to develop the most functional athletic core.