Welcome to the latest part of our Feel Naughty, Stay Nice campaign. We’re hope you’re enjoying our ideas so far – don’t forget to check out our healthy eating and exercise hacks at the bottom of each post.
In this latest post, we look at the plank. We know, we know, we talk about the plank a lot. But it’s great. You don’t even need to move!
As a rule of thumb, if you can’t plank for at least 30 seconds without your arms juddering, then you need to practise more! Then you can the gradually increase the amount of time you plank for!
The plank
Start to get into a push up position, but bend your elbows and rest your weight on your forearms instead of your hands. Your elbows should be underneath your shoulders.
Your body should form a straight line from your shoulders to your ankles. Keep your core tight.
Next straighten one arm at a time so that you move into the push up position – or straight arm plank.
Your body should remain in a straight line with your core tensed and your back straight.
Lower one arm at a time back to the forearm and start position and this completes one rep.
If at any point you feel strain or sharp pain in your shoulders, hips or back, regress the exercise and put your knees on the floor.
