The age of the countless sit-ups is over and now more and more people are incorporating planks into their daily workout. Planking is one of the best exercises for your core because it helps build strength all over your body and sculpt your waistline.
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What Are The Benefits?
If you’ve done yoga or Pilates, chances are that program included some type of planking. Planking allows you to engage a wider range of muscle groups. It lets you workout your abs without the pressure of being on your back like when you do a sit-up. It also stretches out your back and even improves your posture. One of the advantages of planking is that you can practically do them anywhere. In addition to helping you tone your body, planking also has these added benefits:
- It’s a form of meditation: When you do planks, you hold the position anywhere from 20 to 60 seconds, which gives you time to meditate. Not only are you trying to hold still, but you’re also breathing deeply, which is a great way to kill two birds with one stone.
- Great for your back: If you work at a job that requires you to sit down in front of a computer or stand up all day, chances are you carry your stress on your back. Doing planks regularly will help ease back pain, but it also strengthens your muscles and improves your posture.
- You become more flexible: You’ll be surprised to know how many people can’t touch their feet and this is because they have no flexibility. Planking expands and stretches your shoulders, your collarbone, hamstrings, your arches on your feet and even toes. Planking allows you to move around better and even be lighter on your feet.
- Relieves Stress: When you stretch out your arms it feels good, doesn’t it? The same thing happens when you do planking, but at a bigger level. When you stretch out the muscles on your back, which is where many people carry their stress and tension, this helps improve your overall mood. There have been studies that show that planking even relieves anxiety and symptoms of depression.
- Makes you stronger: Many people love running or doing some type of cardio, but cardio doesn’t build muscle. It burns off fat, but it doesn’t tone as well as when you do planks. With planking you are using your upper and lower body strength to lift yourself up. This creates stronger muscles and therefore better looking abs and arms.Let’s get planking!
