18 Aug The Biggest Mistake With The Plank (Plus A 30 Day Plank Challenge)

This will be a short post, but an important one, so please read.

In regards to a standard plank exercise (as opposed to the hard style plank), one of the most important things about this exercise is the full body tension and stabilization to build core strength.

If we want to achieve this, we must contract our glutes when performing the plank.

It makes the exercise harder, but it also increases the benefits by significantly enhancing the pelvis and trunk stabilization.

In other words, it locks down the pelvis and sets the spine in a more stable position.

Do you fire your glutes when you perform a plank?

If you do, awesome!

You’re in the minority.

Forgetting to do this is easily the biggest mistake I’ve seen when someone performs a plank.

In the majority of pictures, videos, or exercise descriptions, this key technique tip is almost always overlooked or not emphasized enough, but it’s so important.

I feel like Mugatu (Will Ferrell) in Zoolander (if you don’t know what I mean, check the clip below).

I wonder how anyone else isn’t seeing this and I find myself asking “Doesn’t anyone else notice this? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!”

Seriously, fire your glutes with the plank.

You’ll benefit much more from the exercise and it will help to “condition” this stabilization effect for other important lifts and exercises you do.

I wrote a detailed article about the significance and power of using our glutes in many key exercises, if you haven’t read that, please take a read.

ACTION:

One more time – squeeze your glutes when you perform the plank.

Then, I won’t feel like I’m taking crazy pills -:))

If you really want to “program” this technique so that it becomes automatic, take the 30 Day Plank Progression Challenge.

It’s very simple and I created a FREE PDF for you to download to follow the program.

You can combine this 30 Day Plank Progression Challenge to any existing program you’re currently doing.

Again, click below, download the PDF and take the challenge.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PLANK CHALLENGE.

One more time – Fire. Your. Glutes.

Enjoy!