The February Fitness Challenge: Core Exercises, Not the Plank
Perhaps my favorite Lifehacker fitness challenge so far was the day we finished the bar . I hate boards. Fortunately, you can work your core muscles without doing any planks.
Therefore, every week this month, we will introduce you to a few basic exercises that you may not have tried before (or should try again). Of course, this isn’t just about your abs: your core includes all the stabilizing muscles that aren’t part of your arms or legs. So, your abs, yes, but also the muscles in your back, the muscles that span your sides, and possibly some of the muscles that surround your shoulders and hips.
These exercises are a little weird because your core’s real job is to stabilize your body when you’re trying to do something else. When you stand, your core supports your torso so you don’t flop like a jellyfish. It transfers power from the ground up your legs to your fist as you hit your bag. It allows your shoulders to reach your hips so you can swing a baseball bat or drag a kayak paddle through the water.
A few overlooked core exercises you can try right now:
- Push-ups: Okay , push-ups are still the bar, but you move while you do it, which makes it 900 percent less boring.
- Boat Pose: This isa yoga movement where your buttocks are on the floor and everyone else is not . Stretch your arms and legs to make it harder. Hold your legs to make it easier.
- Wheel ab: A toy that looks so fun … until you try it. This week would be a good time to try it. Please don’t fall face down. ( Here’s how to avoid falling on your face .)
Try one of them or choose another! We’ll be back next week with others. And let me know in the comments which underrated core exercises you like and which you don’t. (Personally, I hate them all, but I’m open to suggestions.)