By now everyone who reads my blog knows that I use planks exercise to build my abs and these are about the only core exercises I promote. Not that there aren’t other exercises that work, I just find that many woman out there spend way too much time focusing on the muscles in the stomach when there is still a lot of fat covering it.

The plank is a well-known exercise in both Pilates and yoga. It is one of the most popular exercises for developing core strength and stability as well as the arms, butt and legs.

Here are a couple of plank exercises I do and a video showing how to properly do a regular plank exercise.

Plank

1. Lie face down on mat resting on the forearms, palms flat on the floor.
2. Push off the floor, raising up onto toes and resting on the elbows.
3. Keep your back flat, in a straight line from head to heels.
4. Tilt your pelvis and contract your abs to prevent your butt from sticking up in the air or sagging.
5. Hold for 20 to 60 seconds, lower and repeat for 3-5 reps.

Remember to not let your hips and back sag. This exercise will only be effective if you work to maintain a flat line from your shoulders to your feet. You might want to start in front of a mirror to learn the technique.

Side Plank

1. Start by lying on your side.
2. Legs straight, feet stacked.
3. Straighten bottom arm, keeping it in line below shoulder.
4. Place free hand on your hip.
5. Flex feet and balance on sides of feet (feet are stacked).
6. Hold for 20 to 60 seconds, lower and repeat for 3-5 reps.

Remember to keep your body in a straight line, tightening your abs and butt muscles. You may want to start doing these in front of a mirror also.