Team Fitness Gurus No. 38: What is the Core?

Fitness experts will often tell you that strengthening your core will also strengthen and improve your balance. But what is the core? Core muscles are those muscles that are located in the abdominal, lower back, thoracic, and cervical regions of the body. By strengthening the core muscles, your muscles in these areas can be trained to work in a more efficient manner, which will promote stability and balance. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, weak core muscles not only cause balance problems, but also lower back pain. Discover the exercises that work best for your body and core structure by contacting The Franciscan Center at 937-436-2203

Team Fitness Gurus No. 36: Workout Comfort

Overheating in an exercise class is possible if you have decreased blood circulation, are overweight or underweight, and take prescription medication. There are additional reasons that you might feel overheated or even chilled during a workout and for these reasons it is essential to monitor your comfort level during exercise and respond accordingly. It is important that you dress in layers and be prepared to remove sweaters and jackets to stay cool while you are working out, and to take sips of water throughout your workout.  Some of the long-range effects that may occur from always working in environments that are too warm or too cold might include cramps, muscles spasms, and headaches.