Friends Don’t Let Friends Ab Crunch: The Truth About Real Core Training with Cory Cripe

Episode Summary:

In this eye-opening conversation, Lina Midla chats with her mentor and DVRT expert, Cory Cripe, about the myths of core training. They unpack why six-pack-focused workouts miss the mark, how traditional ab exercises like crunches can actually cause more harm than good, and what it really means to train your core.

Cory shares his journey from “chubby kid” to fitness leader, how he discovered Dynamic Variable Resistance Training (DVRT), and the game-changing role of hands and feet in stabilizing the body. Lina and Cory also break down functional strength, motor control, and how core stability affects real-life movement—especially for clients struggling with back pain, postpartum recovery, or poor posture.

You’ll Learn:

• Why your core isn’t just your abs—it’s a network of 35 muscles working together
• The difference between stability and balance (and why it matters)
• How every movement can be a core exercise when done right
• Why “strong hands and strong feet” is one of the best cues for core activation
• Why it’s time to let go of old-school ab workouts and embrace functional movement

Cory Cripe is the owner of Fitness Lying Down in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and a passionate advocate for sustainable strength training through the DVRT system. With a BS in Exercise & Sport Science from UW-La Crosse and over 20 years of experience across nearly every facet of the fitness industry, Cory blends science, faith, and fun to help people move better and live stronger.

Since founding FLD in 2014, he’s helped countless individuals grow stronger, move better, and feel more confident through a thoughtful, playful, and deeply intentional training approach.

Beyond the gym, Cory is a proud husband and father of three, a practicing Catholic, a guitarist-in-training, and someone who finds joy in both movement and stillness—whether in nature, at church, or connecting with his community.

• Website: fitnesslyingdown.com
• Instagram: @fitnesslyingdown
• Facebook: Fitness Lying Down
• YouTube: Fitness Lying Down on YouTube
• Podcast: The Fitness Lying Down Podcast (search on your favorite platform!)

• Instagram: @limitlesswithlina
• Website: limitlesswithlina.com
• Podcast: Coffee Talk with Lina Midla: Wellness, Wisdom, and Woo (available wherever you listen!)