Planks are so, so good for you. But they’re also kind of, well, boring. Holding a plank for 30 to 60 seconds means you’ve got nothing but the floor to distract you from that deep burn quaking up through your bod. The burn is a good thing; the boredom is not.
Once you’ve nailed the proper plank form (here’s how to do it), it’s time to have some fun. If you follow NASM-certified personal trainer Kaisa Keranen on Instagram (@kaisafit), you know this woman has an encyclopedia full of workout moves. Try adding these different planks (some we’ve never even seen before!) to your workout to keep crushing your core.
How to: Start in a plank position. Lift your hips into a downward dog position. At the same time, lift your left foot from the ground and extend your left leg toward the ceiling while keeping hips square. Return to plank, driving your left knee to tap left elbow. Continue for 30 seconds. Repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a wide-legged plank position with your right foot raised off the floor and extended out at a 45-degree angle, slightly higher than hip-height. Thread your right leg under the left, keeping leg straight, tapping right foot to the ground and dropping your right hip to tap the floor. Return to start, then continue for 30 seconds. Repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a plank position. Lift your left foot off the ground, then drive left knee toward your right elbow. Then extend the left foot back out behind you without touching the ground. Keep your leg straight as you swing your leg toward your left elbow. Continue without letting left foot touch the ground for 30 seconds. Repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a side plank on your left forearm. Kick your right foot forward, keeping the leg parallel to the ground and foot flexed. Then swing it behind your body, while maintaining control by engaging your core. Continue swinging for 30 seconds, then repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a side plank on your left forearm with your right arm extended overhead, biceps next to your ear. Then bring your right knee toward your right elbow in a crunch, engaging your obliques as you do. Return to start and continue for 30 seconds. Repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a side plank on your left forearm with your right arm extended overhead. Slightly lift your right foot and swing it forward while bringing your right hand to tap your toes. Return to start without lowering your right foot and continue for 30 seconds. Repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a forearm plank position. Lift your hips slightly and shift shoulders backwards. Then shift forward to bring your chest almost to the ground. Push back up and continue moving back and forth for 30 seconds. Repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start on your back, arms extended straight overhead, biceps next to your ears. Roll to the right, then pop up into a pushup position, driving your left knee to tap your left elbow in the same movement. Return to start and continue for 30 seconds. Repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a plank position. Lift your right arm out in front of you, and extend your left leg behind you. Bend your elbow and knee, then bring them together to touch underneath your body, then extend back out. Continue for 30 seconds, then repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a plank position. Kick your left leg towards left elbow, keeping the leg straight and foot flexed. Return to center, then repeat on the opposite side. Continue alternating for 45 seconds.
How to: Start in a side plank on your left forearm with your right hand on your right hip. While maintaining the plank, slowly twist your torso until you can tap your nose to your left fist. Return to start and continue for 30 seconds. Repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a forearm plank position. Drop your right hip toward the floor, then return to center. Repeat on the opposite side. Continue alternating for 45 seconds.
How to: Start in a plank position. Press back to downward dog. Keeping spine neutral and hips elevated, bend elbows and lower head towards floor, gliding chest forward. Tuck butt and back under, and scoop body as if trying to dive down and under a bar; lead with head and pelvis while pressing only hands into floor, and then extend elbows into an upward-facing dog position with thighs off floor and toes active. Next, go directly back to a downward dog. Repeat for a total of one minute.
How to: Start in a plank position. Tap right hand to left shoulder, then left hand to right should. Then jump feet out and back. Continue repeating for 45 seconds.
How to: Start in a forearm plank. Tap knees to the ground, then straighten legs back out. Tap hips to the ground, then lift hips back to neutral. Continue repeating for 45 seconds.
How to: From a plank position, step your left foot next to your left palm. Jump and switch your leg positions so your right foot is next to your right palm. Continue alternating for 45 seconds.
How to: Start in a plank position, but on your tip-toes. Step your right foot forward, so it’s directly under your hips. Then step your left foot forward. Then step back to plank. Continue repeating for 45 seconds.
How to: Start in a three-legged plank, with your left leg extended toward the ceiling. Thread your left leg under the right, and kick it forward with a flexed foot. At the same time, lift your right hand off the floor and open your chest to the side. Return to start and continue for 30 seconds. Repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a plank position. Walk your hands forward to lower your chest toward the floor. Keep getting lower until you feel like you can’t hold it anymore, then walk hands back to start. Continue repeating for 45 seconds.
How to: Start in a plank position. Twist your body to the left, and lower your hips. Then, lift your right leg, and reach your right arm to tap your fingers to toes. Return to start. Continue for 30 seconds, then repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a side plank on your left forearm. Use your obliques to explosively drive your right leg toward the ceiling (or even your ear), then slowly lower it back down to start. Continue repeating for 30 seconds, then repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in plank position. Drive your right knee to tap your left elbow, then from there, straighten your right leg. Reverse the motion. Continue for 30 seconds, then repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start on all fours, in tabletop position. Lift knees to hover two inches off the ground. Squeezing your core and keeping back flat, lift your right hand and tap left knee. Return right hand to floor, then lift left hand to tap right knee. Continue alternating for 45 seconds.
How to: Start in a plank position. Jump both feet toward your left elbow, then return to center. Repeat on the opposite side. Continue alternating for 45 seconds.
How to: Start in a plank position. Lift your right foot to step over left leg, rotating your chest toward the ceiling and extending left arm straight overhead. Return to start. Continue for 30 seconds, then repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a plank position. Lift your left leg, and bring it over right leg to tap left foot on the ground. Then bring it back and drive your left knee to the left elbow. Continue for 30 seconds, then repeat on the opposite side.
How to: Start in a plank position. Jump your feet in toward hands, then lift chest so you’re in a squat position. Raise arms next to ears. Place palms down on the ground and jump back to start. Continue for 45 seconds.
How to: Starting at the top of a pushup position, bend elbows and lower yourself down until you can shift your weight from your hands to your forearms. Your body should form a straight line. Hold the position for 45 seconds.
How to: Hold the top of a pushup position, palms directly below shoulders, legs shoulder-width apart straight out behind you, spine neutral, and abs and glutes engaged. Hold the position for 45 seconds.
How to: Lie on your left side with legs extended, left elbow directly under your shoulder, and right hand palm down. Stack right foot on top of left and lift hips and knees off the mat, keeping the side of your left foot and your left forearm and elbow in contact with the ground. Hold the position for 30 seconds, then repeat on the opposite side.
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