One simple cue to forever change your plank pose

It is universally accepted that plank is one of those go-to fitness moves. You see them in yoga, bodyweight strength classes, and most “core strength” coaching programs. Plank can be great for building muscle and bone strength: it loads the upper body, requires core activation, and can be scaled according to ability. 

To experience plank in a way that gets your whole body activated, try this:

- Set yourself up as you normally would in plank: hands under your shoulders, with your feet hip distance apart. If you prefer to plank on your forearms, that works too! I also encourage you to modify this position by placing your hands higher than your feet—that might look like using a bench or a countertop so that you’re in an incline position rather than horizontal.

- Once you’re in plank, create an isometric connection between the upper body and lower body by pulling (without moving) your hands towards your feet, and your feet towards your hands. This is an “isometric” contraction because nothing is moving. But even though nothing is moving, using that energetic pull creates a ton of activation. You get a complete core energy buzz happening!

With this kind of awareness and activation, plank can be energetically empowering—especially when it’s preceded with plenty of warmup and wrist prep. Want to see what that looks like in a full-body, bone-strengthening yoga practice? Check out Planking with Purpose.

Till next time,

Susannah