Our midsection, or core, is essential to our overall health and wellness. Often, when we think of our core, we think of our abs, but it’s much more than that. Our core muscles include those in our abdomen, back, hips, and pelvis.

Maintaining a strong and healthy core can prevent injuries, alleviate pain, improve posture and balance, and increase flexibility and range of motion. Here are six habits you can adopt to keep your midsection strong and pain-free.

1. Practicing Proper Posture

Proper posture is vital for our midsection wellness. When our posture is off, it puts added stress on our neck, shoulders, and lower back, leading to pain and discomfort.

To maintain good posture, it’s important to align your ears over your shoulders, slide your shoulder blades down your back, pull your navel towards your spine, and align your hips over your ankles. When sitting, make sure to sit upright with your feet flat on the floor and your weight evenly distributed on both hips. Additionally, be mindful of your posture when standing and avoid slouching.

2. Engaging in Regular Exercise

Regular exercise plays a significant role in maintaining midsection wellness. It’s essential to engage in activities that challenge our core muscles, such as planks, crunches, and squats.

Activities like yoga and Pilates can also help improve posture, balance, and flexibility while strengthening the core muscles. It’s important to include both aerobic and strength training exercises in your routine to achieve optimal results.

3. Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is important for midsection wellness. Carrying excess weight, particularly around the midsection, puts added stress on our core muscles, leading to pain and discomfort.

Eating a balanced diet and engaging in regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight and support your midsection wellness.

4. Improving Flexibility with Stretching

Stretching is crucial for maintaining midsection wellness. Tight muscles can lead to pain, discomfort, and limited range of motion. Regular stretching can help improve flexibility in the hips, pelvis, and lower back, reducing the risk of injury.

Incorporating stretching into your daily routine, such as when you wake up in the morning or after a workout, can help keep your midsection healthy and pain-free.

5. Practicing Mindful Breathing

Practicing mindful breathing can help reduce stress levels and alleviate tension in the midsection. When we’re stressed, our breathing becomes shallow, which can lead to tension and pain in the muscles of our midsection.

Taking a few moments each day to engage in deep breathing exercises can help reduce stress levels and promote relaxation, supporting midsection wellness.

6. Improving Sleep Habits

Getting enough sleep is crucial for midsection wellness. When we don’t get enough sleep, our muscles can become tense and achy, leading to discomfort in the midsection and back.

Establishing a consistent sleep routine, avoiding caffeine and electronics before bed, and creating a comfortable sleep environment can help improve sleep quality and support overall midsection wellness.