3 Minute Plank Circuit for Core

Planks!  Love 'em or hate 'em, you need 'em!!  No one would argue about the benefits of having a strong core.  Whether you are working on a six pack, improving your sports performance, or fixing your posture and reducing back pain, you need to regularly work on strengthening your core.  And although crunches are popular, planks are, by far, a more effective core exercise for achieving the goals above.

A plank is more of a full body exercise that is much better for your back than a crunch. While both exercises work the rectus abdominus and the obliques, the plank also targets the rest of your core including your gluts, quads, hip flexors and erector spinae.

For the following workout,...

• If a 30 second plank is too hard for you - start with each exercise in the circuit only being for 20 seconds to give you a 2 minute circuit, and try to repeat it 3 times.
• If a 30 second plan does not challenge you - do each exercise for 45 seconds (4.5 min circuit).
• For an advanced workout, do each exercise for 60 seconds (6 minute circuit).

3 Minute Plank Circuit

Repeat the following 2-4 times:

• 30 second plank
• 30 second cross under mountain climbers
• 30 second side plank with hip dips (right)
• 30 second side plank with hip dips (left)
• 30 second reverse plan with alternating leg lifts
• 30 second bicycle crunches