So, even though we eventually want to add time to the duration of our plank, we also want to make certain that our plank is “good”. So before you add on some time, make certain that you are in proper form. As I mentioned before, a mirror would be helpful. If you don’t have a mirror maybe you have a camera with a timer and you can set it up to take a picture of you while you are planking so you can see the position of your body. Or if you have an iPad you can set it up so the camera is on you while you are looking at the display. Or if you have someone that can take a picture for you, do that. I would strongly recommend YOU looking at you as opposed to you asking someone, “Hey, how do I look?” or “Am I in alignment?” When you ask someone they might not really know what you mean by “straight” or “in alignment” so they might say yes and you aren’t. Or, they might say no but you really believe you are so you don’t really think they know what they are talking about. Or a hundred other possibilities.
I am not sure if I’ve shared this before, but once I was working with a trainer and she told me to bring my foot straight back. And I did. I did the exercise again and she told me to try to bring my foot straight back next time. So I did the exercise again, and she said, bring your foot straight back. Every time I brought my foot back I THOUGHT I was going straight back. Finally I just asked her to move my foot to where “straight back” actually was. I stopped and sensed the difference and said, “Oh.” I was really off. But I didn’t realize it. I thought I was going straight back. So you might think you are in alignment so it really helps to be able to SEE for YOURSELF. That way you can also figure out how much of an adjustment you need. Maybe your hips are sagging so you need to move them up. Maybe your hips are too high. Whatever it is YOU can see with your own eyes and then use your body sense to adjust!
So . . . are you? Are you planking it? Are you planking it good?
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