Just like a car, we will rust if we don’t look after ourselves. You may not believe it- but look around you. Look at your grandmother or mother, your grandfather or father and see what age does to our bodies. Exercise is a natural form of medicine for these ailments. And building a strong core is essential to help you with stability and strength as you get older.

When I talk about core, I don’t mean a six-pack, a four pack or even a two pack. I am talking about intrinsic core strength. Your deep abdominal muscles that help keep you balanced and standing tall, help prevent back injury and keep your spine in line. Because you’re working muscles to help keep you balanced, playing with stability is the best way to get stronger.

Playing with balance forces your intrinsic core muscles, and the ones that surround your spine to spring into action to keep you stable. These types of exercises build strength where you need it most, your center of gravity. They will help with balance, stability, spinal alignment and bone strength – to name a few. These types of exercises are ones that can help you to fight osteoporosis, avoid using a walker or a cane, walk up stairs, and to hold on during a bus ride.

These exercises will build strength in your ankles and your feet. These are important exercises for us to do for now and for our future.

Yeah, sure you may end up with a walker or a cane one day, but this day may happen 15 years later than it would have had you not took the time to exercise in your youth or middle age.

Here are 8 tips to help you build intrinsic core strength and stability. Try one or try them all!

1. Try to perform exercises on an instable surface.
2. Stand on one leg while you perform exercises like bicep curls.
3. Perform exercises like chest presses on a stability ball.
4. Stand on a Bosu Ball or Dyna Disk instead of on the ground while you perform exercises like shoulder presses.
5. Walk
6. Plank. Once you’ve mastered plank, challenge yourself with variations.
7. Exercises like single leg balance reach.
8. Heart pumping balance exercise where you have to keep yourself standing as hop.