Girdle Of Strength

Place your thumbs on the lowest points of your rib cage. Now place your fingers on your front hip bones. Ron Fletcher refers to the space between your thumbs and fingers as the "girdle of strength." In contemporary Pilates and fitness language, it is also referred to as the abdominal "core" or "powerhouse." What is the state of your girdle of strength?

In the late 1800s, women would cinch their waists to create shapely silhouettes. Thankfully, at the turn of the century, women became interested in sports and athletics and corsets lost their whale bones and lacing for more comfortable and movable elastic shapers. Men had their own versions of fashionable torment, a waistcoat layered on top of high waisted pants, that were fastened in the front. In modern times, our girdles of strength do not come from reality-defying corsets. Rather, it is a combination of attentiveness to diet and exercise that creates toned abdominals reflected in flat bellies with waists smaller in circumference than our chests and hips.

As stylists, it is a health hazard and a risk to our artistry when we have weak abdominals or bulging bellies. We sentence ourselves to routine low back discomfort and/or pain when we ignore the torso. The demands of our profession require that we maintain a strong girdle not only for our health but because our profession is one that glorifies beauty.

What you might find fascinating about the powerhouse, or girdle of strength, is that the spine is supported by the muscles of the torso versus the spine supporting the torso. Think about that. The spine is like an elevator shaft in the center of a high rise. The elevator does not hold up the building. The building holds up the elevator. It is the same with the portion of your back that is located between your ribs and hips.

Here are some tips, based on the philosophy of Pilates, for maintaining a healthier back and stronger core:

1. Actively lift your ribcage away from your hip bones. This should be done without arching the low back or allowing the chest to come forward. Think of straightening the spine into a rod that doesn't bend.

2. Practice breathwork where you pull the belly to the spine as you exhale. This is most comfortably done lying down on your back. Make sure your pelvis isn't tilted and your ribcage, the back of your arms and shoulders maintain contact with the floor as much as possible.

3. Perform abdominal exercises such as the Pilates 100s. Check out other fitness disciplines to discover exercises that build the abdominal core muscles.

4. Eat a healthy and nutritious diet.

Unlike hip huggers, the waist whittlers of old aren't likely to make a comeback. Our girdles will have to become strong the old fashioned way; with hard work and thoughtful food consumption.