Side plank

Category: Strength

Level: 1

Work up to 20-30 second holds each side

Carla van den Berg

  • Straight line from head to ankles
  • Elbow directly under shoulders
  • Hand on hip or reaching up toward the sky
  • Hips too low ('sagging')
    • Cue "Raise hips slightly towards the ceiling"
  • Upper shoulder rotating inwards
    • Cue "Proud chest"
    • Cue "Reach hand up towards sky"
    • Cue "Pinch shoulders back towards spine"
  • Elbow tucked too far back towards hips
    • Cue "When setting up from the ground, place elbow a little farther toward the head than you think it should be"
  • Head hanging down
    • Cue "Long, strong neck"
  • Activates obliques (lateral trunk muscles)
  • Trunk stability
  • Activates shoulder muscles