Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/817011
MAY / JUNE 2017 19 living fit core training / instructor insights and goals, a personal trainer can prescribe the right exercises to train your core. Following are a few examples. • Annie the administrative assistant spends hours in front of her computer and needs to promote strong posture. Her trainer could suggest exercises to strengthen her back extensors, hips, and deep abdominal stabilizers. Aer a few weeks, Annie would likely sit taller at her desk and feel more energetic. • Wally the weekend golfer works with a trainer every spring to get ready for golf season. His trainer keeps him focused on hip stability, rotational mobility, and power— all of which come from the core and provide big benefits on the course. • Rick the runner found himself nursing hip and knee in- juries that sidelined him from triathlon training one too many times. About to give up, Rick met with a physical therapist, who encouraged him to prioritize core work several times a week with an emphasis on spine-stabilizing exercises and hip and glute strength. Rick's hips and knees quickly began to realize the advantages of improved core performance. Tips for success Get off the machines. Most weight machines are designed with seats and pads that do a lot of the work our cores should be doing. Instead, do exercises that require you to stand and move—it makes every exercise a core exercise—and incorpo- rate some planks and push-ups. You also can train your core simply by bracing your core. e primary muscles you feel when doing this are the trans- verse abdominis and the obliques. ose transverse abdominis muscles wrap around your tummy, and the obliques run at an angle and contribute to the shape of your waistline. You can work these while you are driving, watching television, or sitting at your desk. Just activate your abs. Still dreaming about a six-pack? It's perfectly fine to con- tinue your crunch routine. Just make sure to keep your body composition in check and don't neglect the rest of your core. —Maureen Eggers can be reached at 206.839.4785 or meggers@wac.net. Instructor insights Earl Davis | Cycling & Boot Camp For Earl Davis, fitness has always been at the forefront. Originally from Waco, Texas, Earl moved to Tacoma during elementary school. A military father meant frequent moves, but there was always one constant in Earl's life—running. "Track sent me to college," Earl says. He studied at Spokane Community College and Boise State on athletic scholarships and competed nationally in the 400-meter dash. Recruited by the WAC in 2014, Earl spends his days teaching fitness classes at the Club, coaching soccer at Snohomish United and Eastside FC, and providing person- al training for elderly clients through the Silver Sneakers program. He oen bikes between his many places of work, sometimes logging more than 50 miles a day. Despite his schedule, Earl still finds time to read comic books, amassing over 10,000 issues. "I find inspiration in life through my favorite saying: Stronger every day, better every year," Earl says. "I've been telling myself that since high school." If you've ever taken one of his classes, you know it well. L A N E C A U D I L L u Earl Davis teaches cycling and boot camp classes at the WAC. He is also available for private instruction. Email fitness@wac.net.