The whole notion of hardening and tightening one's core is a primary element in a modern day fitness practice. Unfortunately, the fitness world has obscured the entire concept of the core and has neglected the evolutionary and natural aspects of the core.
    The fitness model teaches that the core is like a series of building blocks that need to be strengthened and tightened down to maintain health and stability in the body. This could not be farther from the truth.
    After nearly 5000 years of existence the yoga practice teaches us that the core is an energetic center of the body. This center incudes the primary chakras and the kundalini energy pathway. When practicing yoga a key element is to free up the core energy, which helps bring energetic and emotional stability to the body/mind/spirit.
    The fitness model has been oblivious to this central energy channel and its approach will begin to negate and block this primary source of core energy. Fitness kills the core while yoga enlivens it.
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