03/10/2026
Shoutout to for coming up with this!
⚡️EMZB for optimal core alignment and engagement!
Jacquelyn and I were working out recently as she continues to progress after delivering twins last year and while she’s super strong and doing ALL the things (in workouts and in life), it can still be hard to connect to the deep core and have all your core muscles firing together (espeically after pregnancies and postpartum when our other muscles jump in to compensate). We worked on setting up core alignment for engagement, and Jac created this simple acronym to help her remember during workouts — it was so good, I had to share it with you!
E: ELEVATOR: think of lifting your pelvic floor muscles like an elevator going up floors—not squeezing the glutes or tucking your butt, but a gentle but strong lift
M: MAGNETS: imagine magnets drawing your hip bones towards each other, not turning your knees in or hunching over, but just drawing in and up
Z: ZIPPER: “Zip up your core,” my favorite phrase to connect from your p***c bone up to your rib cage, like you’re zipping up pants
B: BUTTON: Button up the base of the rib cage to connect all at the top
All of this while keeping good posture in your chest, back, and shoulders, not hunching over, sucking in, pushing back or holding your breath!
This sets up your core for any exercise: standing, seated, or on the mat, upper body, lower body or core.
I recently shared my tips for getting STACKED for a “snatched” waist (I hate that term but it gets the clicks, so 🤷♀️) If you’ve done core strength with me before, or truly any strength with me, you know I always stress alignment, posture and pressure management for true deep core engagement. This is KEY not just for the strength and definition many of us want, but for optimal movement patterns, strength in all movements, and avoiding and relieving back tension and pain.
(And while I stress these in postnatal training and healing your core after childbirth, c-sections, diastasis recti, or pelvic floor dysfunction, these concepts are for ALL of us, no matter where we are in our fitness journeys.)
Is this helpful? Try EMZB in your next workout!
