Best exercise for your core

[Reinventinganna]

I already do yoga, LB&T, dance and Pilates weekly and weights 2-3 times a week but my core strength seems terrible.
Do I need to up these or something else?

Planks! Every kind of plank.

If you're doing Pilates are you doing it correctly? Are you engaging your core muscles before starting each exercise? Because otherwise you're just waving your arms and legs around. Same goes for your other classes. Find a coach with small class sizes, who can check that you're doing the moves correctly. Makes all the difference.

Also planks 😁

Yeah planks. Awful things.

Have you been told how to engage your core muscles? It isn't easy to describe, but you lift your belly button upwards, tuck your tail end in slightly, and then pull your stomach muscles up and in. Like you would if you were doing up the zip on some tight jeans.

The pilates exercise called clams is good too, but you need to be doing it properly.

I would take 1-2-1 pilates for a month or two to focus on core exercises. The individual attention will make sure that you're doing them properly - there's a big difference between the corrections that a teacher can give in class compared to when working solely with you.

Sounds like you're not engaging your core in any of the exercise you're doing. And your weights aren't heavy enough.

Try doing a hollow hold for 30 seconds - lie on your back. Flatten your spine to the floor. Lift your feet about 5 cm from the floor; lift your head & shoulders about 5 cm from the floor, keeping your alignment of neck and spine, and keeping your lower spine flat to the floor. Arms off the floor by your sides.

Think about your back & your back ribs flattening into the floor. It's hell, but it trains your core better than a plank, because it forces you to keep your spine in alignment instead of hunching your shoulders in a plank.

Pilates is amazing for the core. I find it boring but it definitely works.

What type of yoga? Switch to Ashtanga

It matters a lot less what style etc you are doing compared to whether you are doing it correctly. There are so many ways to do these exercises wrongly, using the wrong muscles. It's not always really visible from outside which muscle groups are working.

I'd second 121 classes in order to get good form. You will quickly notice the difference.

Thank you, sorry I forgot that I posted!

The Pilates teacher checked my core and believes that I am engaging my core in Pilates at least but I will ask about some 1:1 sessions.

I will try the hollow hold and planks.

Some Physio's run pilates sessions which you might find better than ones run at a gym

Planks and more planks but make sure your technique is correct.

Tip I saw on here ages ago, try making a "vvvvvv" sound and see how that feels in your stomach.

Does it have to be indoors without machines?
Honestly? cycling uphill. You don't even realise how it's working your Abs (seated) or Glutes/thighs (off seat)
Am off for a bike ride myself in abit.
Realise it's not for everyone for all kinds of reasons, but it's the best by a country (uphill) mile

pilates should be great for your core.

look up core exercises on youtube. plenty there.

most focus on planks/tuck planks/superman raises/V-raises

...you might also want to consider adding weights in. Can be done in pilates or not but either way, get some professional 1-2-1 instruction when you start to make sure you're doing it properly

Crying

Les Mills on demand has a programme called core and it’s been amazing for mine. They usually have a 30 day free trial

I recently got back into body pump and I swear the clean and press is doing my core the world of good.