The Best Core Exercises for a Strong Back and Core!

Dixon Troyer • February 28, 2025

The Best Core Exercises for a Strong Back and Core! 

The Best Core Exercises for a Strong Back and Core! 

When most people think about core workouts, they immediately picture endless crunches and sit-ups. While these exercises are great and have their place, they only scratch the surface of true core training. Your core is more than just your abs—it includes your obliques, lower back, and deep stabilizing muscles that support your spine and improve overall strength. If you want a rock-solid core that enhances performance, prevents injury, and improves posture, it’s time to add some underrated but highly effective core exercises to your routine. 

1. Hollow Body Hold 

Why It Works: This exercise engages the entire core, especially the deep stabilizers, helping to build a rock-solid midsection and improve endurance. 

How to Do It: 

  • Lie on your back with your legs extended and arms overhead. 
  • Lift your shoulders and legs off the ground while keeping your lower back pressed into the floor. 
  • Hold this position for 20-30 seconds, gradually increasing the duration as you progress. 

2. Hanging Leg Lifts 

Why It Works: This move targets the lower abs while also engaging the grip and hip flexors. It’s an advanced exercise that builds serious core strength. Also a great shoulder stretch! 

How to Do It: 

  • Hang from a pull-up bar or stall bar with your arms fully extended. 
  • Engage your core and lift your knees toward your chest without swinging. Knees can be bent of legs straight. I recommend building to do legs straight bringing your shins to the bar. 
  • Lower your legs back down with control. 
  • Perform 10-12 reps. 

3. Dead Bug 

Why It Works: The dead bug is a fantastic anti-rotational exercise that improves core stability without straining the lower back. It helps strengthen the deep core muscles, which are essential for balance and functional movement. 

How to Do It: 

  • Lie on your back with your arms extended toward the ceiling and your knees bent at 90 degrees. 
  • Slowly extend your right arm and left leg simultaneously while keeping your lower back pressed to the floor. 
  • Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side. 
  • Perform 10-12 reps per side. 

4. Bear Crawl 

Why It Works: This full-body movement builds core stability, coordination, and endurance while also improving mobility. 

How to Do It: 

  • Get on all fours with your knees hovering just above the ground. 
  • Move forward by simultaneously stepping with your opposite hand and foot. 
  • Keep your core tight and avoid excessive movement in the hips. 
  • Crawl forward for 20-30 seconds. 

5. Power Wheel Crawl (next level bear crawl) 

Why It Works: This advanced crawling exercise takes core activation to another level by adding instability, requiring maximum engagement from the abdominals and hip flexors. 

How to Do It: 

  • Strap a power wheel to your feet and get into a push-up position. 
  • Engage your core and crawl forward by moving one hand at a time while keeping your legs straight. 
  • Maintain a controlled motion, resisting rotation and excessive movement. 
  • Perform for 20-30 seconds. 

6. Sit and Reach with a Weight 

Why It Works: This exercise improves flexibility while engaging the core, particularly the lower abdominals and hip flexors. Adding a weight increases resistance, making it more challenging and effective. 

How to Do It: 

  • Sit on the floor with your legs extended straight in front of you. 
  • Hold a weight (such as a weighted ball, or kettlebell) in both hands at chest level. 
  • Engage your core and slowly sit up while keeping your back straight. 
  • Once you have sat up, push the weight above your head, then back to chest. 
  • Return to the starting position in a controlled manner. 
  • Perform 10-12 reps. 

 

Final Thoughts 

A strong core is about more than just aesthetics—it’s the foundation for strength, balance, and injury prevention. Adding these exercises to your routine will improve your functional fitness, making everyday movements and workouts more efficient. Next time you train, ditch the endless crunches and give these underrated core exercises a try! 


Dixon Troyer is the President of Operations at 3 Elements Lifestyle, LLC., a Fitness and Weight Loss company that specializes in YOU! With more than 15 years of gym and club experience, owning, operating and managing clubs of all sizes, Dixon lectures, delivers seminars and workshops on the practical skills required to successfully help you with your health and fitness goals. Dixon also helps you build the teamwork, management, and training necessary to open your own fitness center. 


Visit his Web site at: www.3elementslifestyle.com, email at Dixon@3elementslifestyle.com or call 805.499.3030. 


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