While the idea of training your core might not sound particularly appealing, it’s so<\/em> important for future-proofing your body against age-related decline. A strong core helps protect your spine, improves balance<\/a> and stability (both vital for preventing falls), supports pelvic floor health<\/a> \u2013 an often-overlooked area of fitness \u2013 and reduces your overall risk of injury.<\/p>\n And it’s never too late to get started. One systematic review<\/a> and meta-analysis found that core training significantly improved balance in older adults. Meanwhile, another recent study<\/a> of more than 5,000 women aged 63-99 found that greater muscular strength was associated with a significantly lower risk of death.<\/p>\n You don’t need a gym or any fancy equipment, either \u2013 as midlife fitness expert and founder of Caroline’s Circuits<\/a>Caroline Idiens<\/a> is always reminding her 2.4 million Instagram followers.<\/p>\n ‘So you want a stronger core?’ the 54-year-old personal trainer asked on the platform earlier this year.<\/p>\n ‘You need to start doing these six exercises<\/a>.’<\/p>\n After warming up, Idiens advises starting slowly and building gradually. Take the time to learn the movements and nail your technique before increasing the pace or volume. She then recommends incorporating them into your regular full-body workouts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Her top form tip?<\/p>\n ‘Try to keep your back down and support your head where needed without pulling on your neck.’<\/p>\nCaroline Idiens’ core exercises<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/section>\n
1. Toe tap x 30 secs<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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2. Dead bug x 30 secs<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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3. Double ab bike x 30 secs<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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4. Bent-knee jack knife x 30 secs<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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5. Straight-leg oblique tap x 20 secs<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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6. Elbow-to-knee crunch x 30 secs<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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