The truth is, very few people properly engage their core. In fact, if you are properly engaging your core at this moment, well: Congratulations! You are part of a very elite group.

Americans are especially bad at engaging their core. The average American couldn’t even locate their core, even if it was part of their own body, which it most definitely is.

You probably have some idea that your “core” is somewhere between your knees and your eyebrows, but you’ve never understood exactly where the core starts and ends. So let’s get specific. Your core is not necessarily at the level of your belly button, although it probably does include your belly button. Your core doesn’t necessarily encompass your lower back, either—although it can, technically. Your hip bones are also not part of your core unless you belong to the approximate 3% of the adult population that has what’s called “higher than average hip bone placement.”

Your core, in reality, is more of a nebulous concept than it is a location on your body—although, yes, it is also a location on your body. Your core just doesn’t have strict borders. Think of it like the Outback. Or nirvana. Democracy? Sure, that works, too!

Got it? Great! Because now that we’ve found your core, it’s time to engage it.

You might be thinking: “But how am I supposed to engage it? Five minutes ago I didn’t even know where it was and now I’m supposed to entertain it?!” Well, the first thing you need to know about handling your core is that it responds best to simple, clear instructions. It likes to be ruled in a way that’s tough, but fair. You need to treat your core in a way that you might treat a distant, elderly relative—one you’ve never liked much but who has a bit of cash they might leave you if you play your cards right.

Your core responds best if you don’t exactly tense the muscles there but you don’t leave them slack either. You sort of– well, you engage them. You make sure that they’re alert. Not like, bouncing-off-walls-had-five-espressos alert, but just normal alert. Your core should be able to operate heavy machinery. Your core should be ready to take the SATs. Your core should be prepared to drive all the way to Albuquerque right now, but you would definitely want to give it plenty of bathroom breaks and at least one or two stops for snacks and just to sort of stretch its legs. You don’t want to strain your core. You want to engage it.

It’s like this: your core is tired of being ignored. What it wants more than anything is somebody to listen to it. To acknowledge it. Your core wants to feel seen.

Your core is the schlubby but funny best friend in any romantic comedy. Wait, I take that back: your core is not funny. Your core is more like the boring dependable character that gets dumped in the beginning of the romantic comedy. But, as the protagonist often discovers, somebody that takes out the trash and is able to make the mortgage payment every month is not so bad after all. Ignore the core at your own peril!

Your core does not need to be the center of attention. It’s not the life of the party. Although, to be honest, it probably should be. There is really not much more important to your health—and dare I say happiness?—than engaging your core. After all, it’s the CORE of your being. It should be respected. It should be engaged. And no, I don’t mean “engaged” like giving it a diamond ring and asking it to marry you. Although, with the way you’ve been ignoring it your whole life I’m sure it wouldn’t mind that.

No, your core doesn’t need all that. It just needs the sort of attention that you pay to other parts of your body that honestly don’t even really deserve it—like your hair. I mean, hair is just decoration. Your core? Your core is everything. So go on: start engaging it!

No. Not like that. That’s too tense. No, that’s not tense enough. No! Listen, you know what? Let’s go back to locating our core. So, you’ll find your core…