How to engage your Abs

Are you doing a core workout and not sure whether you're feeling your Abs?

This is something I see all the time with clients. They follow a routine, do the right moves, but when I ask where they felt it, the answers usually are in the neck and lower back.

If this sounds familiar, chances are your core isn’t properly activating. Instead, other muscles, especially your hip flexors, lower back, or even your shoulders, start to take over. Over time, this creates imbalances, tightness, and not much improvement in your core strength.

We can learn how to engage those silent muscles and build real strength.

 Learn to Engage Before You Strengthen:

Before you can build a strong, functional core, you need to feel it through awareness. Here’s how to reconnect with your lower abs and make sure you’re getting the most out of your exercises:

🔹 Step 1: Awareness

Exercise: Pelvic Clock

 Lie on your back, visualize a clock on your hips and move your pelvis between “12” and “6.” It helps you identify your baseline and understand how your core contributes to movement.

🔹 Step 2: Engage

Once you’ve found your core, it’s time to engage it.

Exercise: Dead Bugs

Keep your lower back  on the mat. Try not to lift lower back while lifting one foot above your hips and lower it back down.

🔹 Step 3: Strengthen

Now that you can feel and engage your abs, let’s build  strength.

Arms are behind your head, lift head, neck and shoulders off the floor. Lower back stays on the mat like with the previous exercise. Now straighten both legs away from you and back. Remember, the core muscles are moving, try not lifting or arching your lower back.

Have you tried these steps yet? I’d love to hear what worked for you.

Confused if it is working for you?

We can go over it during a session.

Book here