Planking: A Pop Culture Phenom And A Tool To Attaining The Body You Always Wanted

It seems everyone is jumping on the bandwagon, or should I say, jumping off the plank into common waters. From celebrities such as Chris Brown, athletes like Dwight Howard, to regular Joes like you and I, planking (also known as the “lying down game”) has become the newest past time phenomenon. What exactly is planking you ask? It has been described as lying down completely flat with your hands at your sides and body as straight as can be. Basically, you look like you’re playing dead. The key to this “game” is to have someone take a photograph of you performing a plank in the most unusual place and posting it on the Internet.

Now, anyone that knows anything about working out or fitness knows that what people are claiming to be planking is truly not the correct technique. For those who don’t, let me explain the proper way to perform an actual plank. Lay with your stomach facing down and prop yourself up using your elbows. You want to keep your body as straight as you can (like a plank on a ship, hence the name plank) with your butt down, keeping your core and abdominals tucked tight. You want to try to hold this position for at least 30 seconds to really engage your core. The plank exercise can be carried out almost anywhere; will work the stomach muscle tissue and assists to boost your core power.

So now that I’ve explained the correct form, give it a try!

- Terrence Baltimore

Personal Trainer

Share

Related posts:
Comments
July 10th, 2011 | admin | Comments Off |