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Core stability and core strengthening exercises are a much overlooked, but vital, part of a comprehensive workout routine and back health maintenance.

Every day, our daily activities are filled with all kinds of abuses to our back. We twist, turn, bend, pick up things incorrectly. Most of us spend almost all day sitting for our jobs. In order for our core muscles to adequately support our back and internal organs, they have to be in pretty good shape. As soon as we start to get lax in our efforts to stay in shape, our back begins to “talk” to us. Bending over becomes a chore, we hurt all the time, and life becomes more and more miserable.

And our workout routines become ever more risky; we always are on the edge of straining our back.

So what are some good core strengthening exercises?

* Pilates. You can do any Pilates routine and you will come out ahead. I’ve used Pilates for years to keep the old middle tight and strong. Pilates has a sort of “girls only” reputation for some reason, but take it from me, guys; this is serious exercise.

* The Farmer’s Walk. Wait… the what? That’s right, Farmer’s Walk. Pick up two heavy somethings, like dumbbells, and walk across the room and then back again. You will work your arms, hands, shoulders, upper and lower back, legs, and your core ” like crazy, just to keep upright and balanced.

* The Wood Chopper. Take a medicine ball, hold it in both hands over your head and to one side, and swing it down diagonally toward your feet on the opposite side. Bend your knees and hips and use your legs to get to the bottom point, and then lift back up to the starting point. Do several, and then switch sides.

* Saxon Bends. Tough stuff here. Take that medicine ball again, or a weight plate, and standing, hold it over your head at arms’ length. Now sway over to one side, and back over to the other side. Back to center is one rep. Be sure not to bend forward or backward to protect your back, and keep the abs tight at all times.

These exercises are a great warmup for a weight training workout. They’ll warm up the whole body, and you can step away from the treadmill. Or, just devote a whole workout to core strengthening exercises; your back will thank you!