Core Synergistics

This is a review of the Core Synergistics workout, part of the P90X program. To learn more about the program and see reviews of the other workouts in the program, click here.

Core synergistics, as the name implies, is a pretty intense core workout designed for the recovery week component of the P90X program. It goes beyond what Ab Ripper X can do in length and includes some of the leg workout challenges of Legs and Back. As Tony Horton says, this workout is about working multiple muscle groups at the same time! You’ll be working your abs, glutes, back, legs, and chest in almost every exercise, enabling to to gain great amounts of strength and endurance in these key parts of your body. Tony will tell you all about how doing workouts such as this will make you better at everything you do, and he is right.

So, just what will you be doing?

Some of the exercises in this workout are a little more synergistic than others, meaning that some moves target many muscle groups while others are more targeted on just one area. To simplify it a little bit, though, you will be doing a good number of push-ups, ab work, squats, lunges, and other workouts targeting your overall core area.

None of these workouts are what would be considered “standard.” This means that, while you will be doing some push-ups, they are unique. For instance, there are such items as “Sphinx push-ups” and the infamous “Plank to Chatarunga run.” The latter of these is particularly dedicated in its desire to whip you into the best shape possible. Basically, you will be starting out in a plank position (starting push-up position) and begin alternating your feet in the direction of your armpits in a “run.” After 10 seconds, you have the opportunity of continuing this motion, but moving down into the chatarunga position (the bottom of the push-up). It is rough, and it does quite the job of increasing your heart rate.

Ab exercises

The ab exercises in this workout are also one of a kind. They include such items as the steam engine (think, standing, lifting alternating knees up to meet the opposite elbow), the side hip raise (on your side, only feet and elbow touching the ground, and raise and lower your hip repeatedly), and the banana roll (you start on your back with your arms and feet up and, keeping your extremities up, roll onto your side, then onto your stomach, onto your other side, and return to your back). If you didn’t catch all of that, suffice it to say that it works and works well.

There are a lot of other moves in this workout, all of which do a great job of giving your a nice “break” from the regular routine of the program. Believe me when I say, however, that you will be sweating and tired when the clock finally winds down to zero.

Don’t forget to take a look at other workouts in the program.

Photo by jasoncscs.