How to Walk the Plank
…well, maybe not “walk”. We’re not pirates around here, after all. The plank I’m talking about is related to fitness (what else?).
The plank is a fantastic exercise for core strength. It engages the entire body. It is a great indicator of total body strength and endurance. Imagine a static push up: that is similar to what the plank resembles.
As with any exercise, getting your form right is essential. Don’t let your back sag down and don’t let your butt stick way up in the air. Keep the abs tight, your arms straight, and your body locked into a nice long line. The simplicity of resting on the ground on your toes and hands or forearms is an amazing strength-training test.
Watch the video below (I’ve been having fun with videos this week, apparently) to see a few variations of the plank and to learn proper technique:
Do you know another variation on this exercise that I’ve neglected to mention? Got another favourite core exercise? Share them in the comments below!
Awesome! I love plank! And the walking variation is one of my faves too. You are so cute!!
Planks are awesome!
I’ll just add that I teach my clients to do planks one TV commercial at a time. That is, the average TV commercial is 30 seconds, so I suggest they try and hold a static plank for the length of one TV commercial. When that is mastered, two, and so-on until they can hold one for an entire commercial break. Sadly, DVR conspires against me, but planks really are a great TV exercise.
What’s a commercial?
😉 Kidding.
I really like that idea of yours! A really good way to build and track endurance and strength.
But I’m also glad that we don’t have to deal with many commercials these days.
I hate the plank almost as much as I hate deadlifting. lol.
I occasionally do planks with whatever variations I can come up with. The martial arts hard styles were really my foundation for strengthening my core. At the time I didn’t even know what a core was. I was true to the surgeon’s motto even then. “Know nothing but do a lot!”
I could not see your whole body in the video but I know what you are doing so.. but planks are awesome! I often just add them on to the end of a push-up set no matter what version of push-up -incline, decline or regular ole ones. I also do planks with my toes on a stability ball & hands on the floor or a BOSU (flat or rounded side). I also do planks with my forearms on the stability ball… pretty much any time you are working your form in a push-up position, no matter what the exercise, a plank is there & then you can try to hold it after you complete the reps of whatever you are doing!
Love your variations! The plank is so versatile 🙂
I do like planks. I use my stability ball for them!