Why Core Muscles Are Important? 5 Best Exercises to Build Core Muscles

Understanding the best exercises to build core muscles is important.

That's because you should know why you’re doing something in the gym before incorporating it in your workout routine.

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Why It's Important to Build Core Muscles?

Why is core strength important? (Image via Unsplash/ Andre Taissin)

The core muscles are an important part of the upper body. These muscles help with balance and stability during compound and CrossFit movements. That's why you must never ignore strengthening the core.

Coee muscles assist in various exercises. They work as a support system for the body when the muscles are utilized to lift weights.

So, it’s extremely important to strengthen the core muscles and ensure you’re not leaving behind a crucial muscle group in your fitness journey.

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Best Exercises to Build Core Muscles

Now that you know why core muscles are important, it’s time to know the five best exercises for core muscles.

You do not need to incorporate all these exercises into your workout routine every day. You can mix them in any order you like, as it’s good to have variations in your workout routine for any muscle group.

Let's get started:

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1) Crunch

Crunches are a great addition to your core strength workout. (Image via Freepik)

Abdominal crunches are one of the most common core exercises. If you want to incorporate only one workout, this is the one you should pick.

Crunches allow you to develop the core muscles from various angles. Additionally, you can do machine crunches, bicycle crunches, bodyweight crunches, and other variations, depending on which one works best for you.

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2) Sit-up

Sit-ups are one of the best exercises for core strength. (Image via Unsplash/ Bruce Mars)

Another common exercise to build core muscles is sit-ups.

While sit-ups work on the overall core muscle group, place your hands behind your neck. However, you must make sure that you’re not using your hand or body’s momentum to raise your upper body.

It’s absolutely important to use the core muscles to do this exercise.

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3) Hanging Raise

Hanging leg raises. (Image via Freepik)

Hanging leg raises is an advanced and deep core exercise. You will require some amount of forearm and grip strength to attempt hanging raises.

The only thing you should focus on is that your body needs to be absolutely stable when doing leg raises. You cannot sway back and forth when doing this exercise.

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4) Russian twist

Russian twists. (Image via Freepik)

When you’re focusing on your core muscles, you need to focus on your sides as well.

Russian twists target your oblique muscles like no other. To do this core stabilizer exercise, you can use dumbbells or weight plates, as they are one of the easiest free weights to handle.

It's important to focus on the sides, as these muscles help with keeping the overall core stable when you’re doing compound movements, and also allow you to build a tapered hip as you become leaner.

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5) Plank

Planks for defined core muscles. (Image via Pexels/ Marta Wave)

One of the most impactful exercises to build core muscles is planks. This exercise allows you to build extremely strong core muscles while strengthening the back as well.

There are plank variations to burn fat and eventually build more muscle, incorporate them into your core strength workout routine as you become stronger.

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The best exercises to build core muscles will not give you the best results unless you pair them with a healthy diet and rest.

It's best to begin working on the core muscles as you’re cutting fat so that by the time you’ve become leaner, you will be able to start seeing the abdominal muscles pop instead of working on them after you’ve lost the belly fat.