I used to think core work was an extra.

That core work was not necessary in addition to heavy squats, and deads, and other axial loaded or compound movements.

I no longer think that.

So, YES, core specific work is (depending on your training style and goals), necessary in my opinion.

ESPECIALLY if you are training squats, deads, overhead work, or most any form of resistance training.

Your spine should be MOBILE but also, we want a strong core so that our limbs can move safely as an extension of our core.

Think of your core like a pillar connecting your hips to your shoulders, or your lower body to your upper body.

Below are my go to exercises and cueing:

These are typically done in my warm up/movement prep and/or as accessory work in the end of my lifts.

These are mostly isolation, anti-flexion/rotation work. Focused on keeping the core stable (ribs stacked over the hips), with engagement from the shoulder to hip girdles.

You can think the core work is “extra” or not. But I don’t know that we can deny the benefits of it across all strength work.

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