It’s no secret that the plank is one of our favorite exercises. To execute it properly, it really requires the whole body to engage.  My favorite cue for planks is to ‘shrink wrap your spine’ with all your core muscles.

In addition to the core, your shoulders must stabilize in compression, which means your chest and your back are communicating in order for your body not to cave in.  Glutes are fired to give strength to the core and your legs are awake & engaged as they transfer tension to the floor.

Once you’ve nailed the standard plank, there are many ways to get creative and add movement. By shifting your base of support, you add a nice challenge to your core stability.