What We’re Really Talking About When We Talk About ‘Core Strength’

"Engage your core.""Find your centre.""Move from the inside out."

You’ve probably heard these cues in movement classes before - but what do they actually mean? What are we really talking about when we talk about core strength?

Spoiler: it’s not just about abs.

The Core as a System, Not a Six-Pack

In anatomical terms, your core isn’t a single muscle - it’s a whole network of muscles, tissues, and connective systems that stabilise the spine, support internal organs, and link your upper and lower body. Think of it as your body’s central powerhouse: when it’s working well, everything else can move more freely and safely.

It includes:

• The transverse abdominis (your deep corset-like muscle)

• The pelvic floor

• The diaphragm

• The multifidus (small spinal stabilisers)

• And yes, the more visible rectus abdominis and obliques

  
  

When we strengthen the core through intentional, controlled movement - like in Reformer Pilates - we’re not just sculpting; we’re stabilising. We’re giving the body a reliable foundation from which to move, breathe, and function.

STRONG Reformer Pilates mix tradition and strength training

Core Strength Is Functional Strength

Core strength is what helps you:

• Stand with ease

• Walk without lower back pain

• Sit tall at your desk

• Pick up your child without bracing

• Feel stable in unpredictable moments

  
  

It's not about looking a certain way - it’s about moving through life with strength and steadiness.

The Emotional Core

Interestingly, when people describe feeling “off-centre” or “ungrounded,” they're often referencing something deeper than posture. There’s an emotional layer to the concept of core strength - a sense of internal support that isn't purely physical.

In many movement practices, especially Pilates, yoga, or somatic therapies, the core becomes a metaphor for resilience, presence, and self-trust. To “move from your centre” can mean leading with intention, clarity, and strength of purpose.

STRONG Reformer Pilates Classes at Studio 34

Reframing the Goal

In a culture that often pushes quick fixes, visible results, and surface-level strength, it can be refreshing - even radical - to reframe core work as something deep, deliberate, and long-term.

It’s not about crunches or chasing definition. It’s about reconnecting to the body’s intelligence and building a centre that supports you, from the inside out.

So the next time you hear, “engage your core,” you might also hear:

Come back to yourself.

Find your centre.

Move from strength, not strain.

That’s what we’re really talking about.