When you're working out, getting to the core of the matter doesn't always mean being static. Yes, holding an elbow plank will work your core, but to really fire it up, take those elbow planks for a walk. The challenge of moving your body forward and backward, as well as side to side, works your abs, back, and arms nicely. Plus it is more functional, meaning when you add motion to your planks, the movement pattern translates more closely to moves you do in your regular life. Strength training this way also helps prevent injuries. I learned this move at the Nike Women's Media Summit, and I really felt it in my abs. I may never do another sit-up again. Only kidding! But try it out and you'll see what I mean.

To see how to walk your plank, just read more.
First off, I know walking on your elbows doesn't sound all that comfy, so make sure you have some padding. If you have a yoga mat, just double it up at the front.
- Start in an elbow plank, with your elbows directly under your shoulders. Your palms should be flat on the ground and in line with your elbows. Pull your abs toward your spine and reach through your heels to activate the back of your legs.
- Walk about half an inch forward with your right arm. Your feet do not move. Walk the left arm forward so it is even with the right arm. Walk back a half inch with right elbow, and then your left.
- Now repeat starting with the left elbow, taking one step forward with each arm and one step back.
- Next you will step your right arm to the right about a half inch. Then bring your left arm a half inch to the right as well. Return to starting position, stepping first with the left arm and then with the right. Once again your feet should not move.
- Reverse directions and step the left elbow to the left, with the right arm following. Then return to back to center stepping first with the right arm and then with the left.
- Now add another two steps in each direction. Walk forward right, left, right, left and then backward right, left, right, left. Repeat starting forward with the left arm. Walk backward starting with the left.
- Walk to the right for four steps. Return to center and repeat walking to the left.
- Push back into a Downward Facing Dog and hold the pose for five breaths. Then repeat the series two more times.
Aside from working your core and your arms simultaneously, another reason to love this exercise is that it works in two planes, which will help increase your overall fitness level.

Emilio Pucci
Boden
Hugo Boss
Thanks, this sounds brutal and I love brutal ab moves! My friends call me masochistic, but really I just have strong abs so even when I'm out of shape it takes really awful moves to get me to feel it.
1I love planks it is a fantastic way to work the abs as you use all your core body strength. I much prefer it to sit ups which by the way I find pointless ;-(
2I love the plank! I'm so happy you posted this!
3I've been doing planks fairly religiously for about a month and a half now and my abs have DEFINITELY improved. I have so much more definition in my obliques and my back muscles. I'm always looking for new twists on them...thanks for posting this!
4One of my favorite plank ab moves, compliments of my 24-Hour Fitness trainer, is very similar to this! The variation comes with a small core exercise ball, like the big ones you sit and lay back on to do crunches.
With the smaller core exercise ball (about half the size of the big ones you can sit on), go into a plank position as if you were on the floor but with your forearms resting on the top/middle of the core ball. Balance yourself, tightening your abs in toward your spine. Tighten your butt and sort of tuck it under, keeping your back straight (so as not to let your back droop down and hurt it).
Slowly move the ball away from your body just an inch or two and then back in. Repeat this movement 10-14 times, stretch and repeat 3-4 times or in-between sets of other things. This works my abs even more than planks on the floor!
5Love this move! I tried it this morning in the abs portion of my spin class. Those in class loved it too. They were groaning. It also helped us hold a longer plank. We normally hold for one minute. But I got 90 seconds out of them with this one.
6I tried this last night and yeah, it's BRUTAL. But if it gives me results, I'm going to stick with it.
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