If you are planning on hitting the gym after a lengthy absence and are about to commit yourself to a regular exercise regime, then you are perhaps experiencing what a lot of women and men alike tend to feel: anxiety.

Where do I start? How often should I work out? How do I avoid injury?

Make no mistake. Paving your way to a healthy lifestyle can definitely seem like an overwhelming task, with advice—sometimes good and sometimes bad—being thrown at you from every corner. Most trainers, athletes and gym enthusiasts, however, will all agree on one thing: building and maintaining your core strength is an essential beginning to any new routine.

What is the core truth? The core truth is that your core strength is amongst the utmost importance in not only gaining strength but also in avoiding common gym injuries. Look at it this way. A structure will not survive without its foundation. When it comes to working out, think of your core as your foundation. Only as a bonus you’ll lose weight and firm up your midsection!

Think about this: the core is your body’s center. Your ab muscles align with your lower back muscles to support the spine during everyday mundane tasks such as sitting, standing and bending over. Your body’s movement originates from this center.

For instance are you experiencing chronic lower back pain? Chances are you need to work on your core strength. It will help with your posture both when you sit and stand.

Furthermore, if you are planning on weight training then core strength helps stabilize your form as you’re working and struggling with heavier weights. Good form is a vital in obtaining results and avoiding injury. And in addition, don’t forget to stretch out your core! It’s an important step in maintaining its durability.

Remember; no pain no gain. When looking for a workout regime that puts emphasis on core strength find a routine that utilizes stability balls, wobble boards, ab rollers and bosu balls.

Otherwise, yoga and pilates, as well as rowing machines and basic boot camp classes, are a great and beneficial way to firm up your torso.