Instead of allowing your back to collapse, tighten your abs, pulling your belly button inwards (toward the ceiling). Reach your tailbone toward your ...IE11isnotsupported.Foranoptimalexperiencevisitoursiteonanotherbrowser.Time'srunningout!Herearethebestdealsfromday2ofPrimeDayOnTheShowFoodAmazonPrimeDayHealth&WellnessParentsPopCultureTMRWPrideBlackVoicesAsianVoicesSharethis —SearchFacebookTwitterEmailSMSPrintWhatsappRedditPocketFlipboardPinterestLinkedinWhendoneproperlyaplankworksyourentirebody—yourabs,arms,back,glutesandlegs.TODAYIllustration/StephanieMansourFeb.17,2021,4:47PMUTCByStephanieMansourInthisseries,we’rehelpingyoumasterbasicexercises—asifyouhadapersonaltrainerbyyourside!Ourgoalistoequipyouwiththeknowledgetoperformthesemovesproperlyinordertogetbetterresultsandpreventinjury.Theplankisoneofthego-tomoveswhenitcomestoworkingthecore,butthatdoesn’tmeanthatit’seasy!Althoughitseemssimple,it'seasytoperformaplankincorrectly—andimproperformnotonlynegatesthecore-strengtheningbenefits,butcanleadtobackstrainaswell.That'swhyit'ssoimportanttomakesureyou'reholdingyourbodycorrectlywhenperformingthemove.Formany,thismaymeanmodifyingthemovetobuildupyourcorestrengthandworkingyourwayuptothefullplank.Whatdoesaplankdoforthebody?Inadditiontobeingacoreexercise,aplankisafull-bodyexercsiethatrequiresproperengagementofthethighs,armsandback.Buttoreapthesebenefits,youhavetoengageallofthesemuscles,whichissomethingpeopleoftenoverlook.(Youlikelyaren'tfocusedontighteningyourquadsandgluteswhileinaplankposition,right?)Allofthebenefitsofaplank—increasedbalanceandposture,improvedcorestrength,reducedstomachfat—aredependentonyourform.RelatedmasterthemovemasterthemoveMastertheperfectsquatin5easystepsCommonmistakespeoplemakewhenplankingIseealotofmyclientsarchingtheirbackswhileinplankposition,whichdefeatsthepurposeoftheexerciseandcanevencauseinjury.Insteadofallowingyourbacktocollapse,tightenyourabs,pullingyourbellybuttoninwards(towardtheceiling).Reachyourtailbonetowardyourheelsbytiltingyourpelvisslig