04/20/2023
WHAT IS “BRACING”?
Bracing is an important spinal position that is required for most exercises, even if it’s subtle or understated as a component.
It is the action of contracting all of our abdominal muscles around the spine, pushing it into the “neutral” position, which means the shoulder blades are packed and the inward curve of the lumbar is flattened by pushing it back to stabilize it. Here Drew is bracing his spine against the mat in a type of upside down plank. Laying on the mat helps sensitize him to how much abdominal tension he needs to flatten his lumbar against the mat. This is a great basic exercise to familiarize yourself with bracing.
