We are ten days into our Pilates in Holland March Plank Challenge! Amazing work everyone!
As our times begin to lengthen and you have more time to wonder why you are doing this 😉 we want to give you some reasons so you are ready to fight off the urge to give up!
Planks strengthen our upper body and trunk, and that is SOOO important. This is about much more than getting six-pack abs or winning a world record. We use our core every day, in ways we may not even know.
Going for a run? Your abs are keeping you upright and stable. Leaning over to pick up a grandbaby? Your core needs to be strong. Sitting down or standing up? Your trunk has a starring role again. And this isn’t just abs.
Most of us know the obliques, the rectus abdominis (aka the six-pack), and the transversus abdominis. But we can’t forget the erector spinae, a group of muscles that run the length of your spine and are important because they help with stability and rotation, and the multifidus, a deep, thin muscle that keeps your spine and pelvis stable, creating proper movement patterns to keep you pain-free. Together they make up the core and keep you moving efficiently.
A strong trunk is crucial to staying healthy and active our entire lives, so let’s keep going!
Below you will find some videos to explain, support, and motivate you. And if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Mandy or any of our instructors!
Wrist prep:
Turning on your core:
Some of our Pilates in Holland clients have asked about alternatives and modifications so they can also participate:
- If your wrists don’t like the weight, you can always plank on your forearms. Just made sure your elbows are under your shoulders
- You can also make a shorter lever by planking on your knees instead of your feet
- If ankle mobility is a problem or you can’t go all the way to the floor, watch Bev for a great modification:
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Want to challenge yourself? Watch as Terree does knee to elbow:
Hope this is a little motivation for everyone!
