Are pulls and squats with great technique enough to work all the muscles of your core? The answer is no, and here’s why. While bracing during those lifts activates the abdominals and the muscles on your back side like your lats and erectors that lie underneath, they fail to fully engage the quadratus lumborum (an important muscle in generating torso and pelvis stiffness and assist movement of the hip). Carrying exercises like the farmer walk shown here are great for this job. With a heavy kettle