Excellent advice Kenny...just curious if you have some specific exercises to recommend...always on the lookout for new ideas!

Oh and thanks for starting the thread!

Stand on the 1/2 ball and have someone toss a small weighted ball to your sides...alternating sides. Great for the core

Well, it looks like measmyself has the right idea. The BOSU - the inflatable hemisphere. Great little piece of equipment. You can do everything on your own. It comes with sample exercises, but for the most part you can invent your own. Great for balance, abs, lower back, strengthening your stabilizer muscles. Just standing on it and trying to be still (no arm-waving assistance) will give you a different feeling in your lower back the first few days. Stand on one foot and avoid focusing your eyes on one spot - move your head around, maybe toss a tennis ball from one hand to the other while looking it into your hand. Bend down on one foot, touch the rim and come up, regain your balance, repeat. Half squats. Ab training is great - there are exercises you can do that take very little time and are way better than crunches. And you can bet someone they can't stand on it wearing socks with their eyes closed for 10 seconds - you'll win almost all the time (but don't bet a kid, because they can do it).

Kenny, thanks for bringing this up. I've been doing Pilates/yoga for over two years now... as we age we tend to 'atrophy' or close in on our mid-section, crushing our organs and causing problems to the spine. Core strengthening and spine flexibility (both are goals of yoga and Pilates) are two of the best ways to keep yourself strong and healthy. Many of the exercise magazines will give you core strengthening exercises, but it's best to start in a class of some sort so you can have someone checking your form -- if you do core exercises improperly, you can injure the back!

Another suggestion - core boards. Most gyms have these as well. Great for working the core and balance. Stability balls are great as well. I love both!

Amen to that, Kenny. I have to tell you that "Strong Core, Strong Body" is my motto. Pilates and yoga definitely help. I like to mix it up. The controlled movements in Pilates help build lean muscle from the inside out. Lean toned abs never go out of style. :)