Day 2 of My 10 Day Plank Challenge!

Plank Challenge:

It's DAY 2 of my Plank Challenge and it's so fun to see everyone's plank pictures and words of encouragement to each other!  Keep up the great work!  You are stronger than you think.

We're going to hit the plank from all angles.  Today is the Side Plank. This one is great for targeting your oblique muscles.  Here's how to do it right!  Make sure your heels are lined up properly then you'll want to keep your back straight and strong and be sure not to drop your hips and your elbow should be in line with your shoulder.  Keep you abs tight and your legs and buttocks firm and lift through your shoulders.  Your goal is to try and hold this move for 30 seconds on each side.  It's all about balance and it's hard to stack your feet, so if you need to stagger them then try that and work up to stacking them later.  Either way you're benefiting your core.

In addition to toning your tummy and increasing the strength in your core, doing planks on a regular basis is also known to help to reduce back pain!  Your spine is YOUR LIFELINE!  And this is a great exercise to keep it strong and build up those muscles that support it! Studies show that regular toning exercises for your core and your back will help to prevent injury and strengthen your spine so it's more resistant to injury.  It will also help to increase flexibility in your posterior muscle groups. The muscles around your shoulders, collarbones, and shoulder blades are expanding and stretching with this exercise (and that's an area of the body that doesn't always get a lot of attention).  It's a total body toner!

Join me in the plank challenge - snap a picture of yourself planking then post it on YOUR FB, Twitter or Instagram pages using the hashtag #PlanksALotDenise!  And for more fitness information and guidance like this, start your 7-day FREE trial of my LifeFit 360 Plan!

Now, let's LENGTHEN, STRENGTHEN and TONE together!

Love from your personal trainer,

Denise