Forget abs—these are the core muscles we should all be training to reduce back pain and improve posture

Woman on her back on a black exercise mat, in a glute bridge position with a blue resistance band around her thighs, shot from above.

I spend a lot of time sitting at my laptop, which is bad for my back health and my posture, so I’m always looking for ways to counteract this.

One thing I try to prioritize is training my deep core—the deep-lying muscles that support the spine when we sit, stand, lift or move.