Shortly after fitness enthusiasts realized the importance of core strength, the plank took over as the most popular core exercise on the planet. Exercisers boast about how long they can hold a plank and there’s even been a Guinness World Record set of 3 hours, 7 minutes and 15 seconds in a plank position.
But is all this popularity warranted?
“Basically, once you can hold the plank for 60 seconds or more it’s time to mix it up. Constantly doing the same old plank over and over again will only slow down your progress,” according to coach Josh Kozak, founder of HASfit. "The plank does a great job of maintaining the stability of the core muscles, but our bodies adapt quickly to the classic plank rendering it less effective. Beginners benefit greatly from easier plank variations, but intermediate to advanced trainees require more challenging versions to receive the positive effects."
If you can already hold a plank for 30-60 seconds and you're not looking to set a world record, then try these 28 Core Carving Plank Variations.
-- Join more than 2 million people per month who have success using HASfit's 500-plus free full-length workouts, free meal plans, free complete fitness programs and YouTube Channel.
