9781422286951

Research Project Find some more core exercises online. You should be able to f ind full descriptions of several different exercises, including photos, drawings, and videos. Search for a few that you think look fun and would work for you. Bookmark the websites you

f ind or write down the exercises so that you can put them together into a core workout. Next, do the exercises for a month. Keep a journal recording how long you exercise and exactly what you do. Record in your journal any differences you notice in your body. At the end of the month, make a deci- sion about whether you want to continue the exercises and why.

Pilates classes are taught by instructors and can be found in gyms, private studios, community education centers, and schools. You can also find Pilates classes online or on DVDs, so you could work out at home while watching a video. Some people like working out alone at home while others need the company of a class. Some Pilates classes use special equipment, and some just need a floor mat. Pilates is popular. People like the variation in movement Pilates of- fers. You’re not just doing repetitions of the same exercises over and over again. Pilates also includes a focus on what’s going on in the brain during exercise. Teachers tell their students to concentrate on breathing and their muscle movements. Yoga is another exercise method, though it is good for a lot more than just core workouts. Yoga unites the body and mind, and was first practiced in ancient India. Today, people use yoga both as a spiritual practice—a way to calm the mind and achieve peace—and as exercise. There are many different styles of yoga. Some are slower and more meditative, like yin yoga or restorative yoga. Other styles are more

Core Workouts

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