Remember those days when you went on a long run, contorted yourself through a 90-minute yoga class, crushed a rec soccer game, and then hit the sauna — all in a weekend? What a dream. Conversely, a parent’s relationship with exercise and fitness is less fun and more… functional. There’s still joy to be found in a good workout, but for a time-constrained parent, much of that joy is in its efficiency, the bang for the buck you get. This is why core strength is a parent’s best friend. It’s the best way to work the total body strength and athleticism you need — to drag a crying kid for 10 blocks, to toss your laughing toddler into the air, to run beside your five-year-old as they wobble on the sidewalk on two wheels. What better reason for a good workout is there?