Simply Nutrition

How to do the PLANK exercise...

I found an EXCELLENT description of executing the "Plank", and I wanted to share it with you. The plank or "Plank Pose" in yoga, is one of the best known (but often poorly performed) exercises for core strength, stability, and great abs! It is actually a whole body exercise (when performed correctly). There must be integration of all the core stabilisation muscles, as well as the the arms, glutes (buttocks), and legs. I have great video of the Plank and Side Plank exercises on my other site DailyBread365...

OR read on and let Marguerite Ogle guide you through the Plank!

Step 1: Preparation

To do the "Plank", start on your knees. Place your hands on the floor in front of you, fingers pointing straight ahead. Your arms are straight and elbows are not locked. Engage your abdominals and lengthen your spine, extend through the top of the head as you lean forward to put your weight on your hands and get your shoulders directly over your wrists.

Step 2: The Extension

With your midsection lifted, keep the legs together and extend them straight back sending energy through the heels, with the toes curled under so some weight is on the balls of the feet. Without over-tightening, activate your legs, especially your hamstrings. Similarly, activate, but do not clench your glutes (butt muscles) - think of pulling your sit bones together. Breathe deeply, allowing the breath to expand into the lower ribs and back. Hold your position for three to five breaths. Repeat up to five times. Incidentally, you can modify this exercise by staying on your knees.
Some reminders for you when doing the PLANK...

News for food allergy sufferers...

Food intolerance or food allergy sufferers will welcome some new research that has come to light. Due to advances in biotechnology, Dutch scientists have been able to identify certain specific proteins and molecules in foods that induce allergic responses in susceptible people. These findings may lead in the future to the development of hypo-allergenic (or non-reactive) foods that willl have little side-effects for the hyper-sensitive individuals. This will be a welcome relief, I'm sure, to all the food-allergic people (especially the wheat, gluten, milk and nut-allergic), whose shopping trips or experiences eating out are anything BUT relaxing and enjoyable! It won't however be welcome news for the "free-from" food market, that has "exploded" in recent years! According to market analyst Mintel...