Healthy happy you.
Planks are always more challenging than they look, and that is just one reason why I love them. They work wonders for your core as well as your shoulders and require no equipment at all. With planks, it's easy to track your progress; the stronger you become, the longer you'll be able to hold the positions. Start by holding your plank for at least 30 seconds and add on in five- to 10-second Read more
I am a fan of working my core with plank exercises. But the basic plank can get a little dull, so I asked Lauren, my Equinox trainer, to throw a new variation at me. She promptly introduced me to the two-point plank. Just holding this position is serious business, so adding arm and leg motion to the unstable plank takes the difficulty level up a notch. This exercise reminds me of the quadruped (a Read more
No matter how you slice it or dice it, the BOSU makes everything harder — and I mean that in a good way. Take your basic plank, add the BOSU into the equation and your core is working overtime. Here's a progression of plank exercises for this devilish piece of equipment that I learned from my Equinox trainer Lauren. Basic Plank: You start in a basic plank with the ball side of the BOSU facing Read more
You're loving your yoga class from Half Moon to Pigeon Pose, but as soon as you get to Shoulderstand, you're less than psyched. Although a basic — challenging, but basic — pose, Shoulderstand can put you at risk of strain and injury when done incorrectly. Turn this pose into your favorite by checking out these common complaints and ways to remedy them. "I Can't Breathe" If you're well Read more
We all know that the plank is the perfect core exercise. We also know that we need to switch up our fitness routines to prevent the plateau and boredom. Here's one of my fave variations on the traditional exercise that has you moving between the basic plank and an elbow plank. Add this move into your fitness routine to tone your arms and work your center. Just make sure to do this on a padded Read more
Celeb trainer Teddy Bass knows you need to work the entire torso and all four layers of abdominal muscles to create a sleek midsection. In this 10-minute workout, Cameron Diaz's longtime trainer mixes plank variations and roll-ups with standing ab exercise for a complete core workout. Press play and get ready to feel your belly burn — in a good way, of course! Read more
If you want to work your core, plank position (top of a push-up) is a great move. You'll not only feel it in your abs, but it works your back, arms, shoulders, and legs. Here are seven variations to make it even more challenging. Get low: Instead of balancing on your hands in a straight-arm position, bend your elbows and lower onto your forearms into dolphin plank. This plank variation targets Read more
The plank is one of my favorite multitasking moves because it works your abs, your arms, and your back all at once. If you vary the basic plank, you'll have a whole slew of different exercises to target every inch of your body. Here are eight variations to bring about a stronger, more toned you. Source: Thinkstock Read more
In celebration of Arbor Day this Friday, I can't help but think about the peaceful and majestic Tree pose. If you've mastered the basic pose already, here are some ways to challenge your Tree. Arch: When doing the traditional Tree pose, balancing your torso straight over your standing leg allows you to stack your bones on top of each other to create a stable pose. Make balancing on one leg Read more
Is one of your legs always stiffer and won't stretch or move as far as the other one? You're not alone. Flexibility and range of motion differences between the sides of our bodies is very common. The problem is, this can set you up for an injury. In general, we all have a dominant leg just as most folks have a dominant hand. If you notice one leg is more flexible than the other, it means you're Read more
