Why Planking May Be the Perfect Exercise

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5 years ago

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Anyone tuning in to NBC’s the TODAY show were no doubt impressed by the plank-off between co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush-Hager, who tried their best to hold a plank for the longest time possible.
The pair tested their strength after 62-year-old George Hood broke the Guinness World Record for the longest time in a plank position – an incredible 8 hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds. Sadly, neither Hoda nor Jenna lasted longer than a minute, with Jenna lasting 30 seconds and Hoda holding the plank position for a full minute.
According to TODAY, planking gives the body an awesome workout by strengthening not just your core, but also your upper and lower body.
However, the hit morning show revealed there are three things people get wrong when performing a plank.
According to Dolvett Quince, trainer and author of “The 3-1-2-1 Diet” people need to pay attention to the following three plank mistakes:
Your Hips Are Too High – according to TODAY, Quince revealed people tend to “hyperextend their hips, pushing them up in the air without realizing how high they are. The best thing you can do is make sure your hips are low, in line with your shoulders.”
Your Hips Are Too Low – Quince shared that keeping hips too low when performing a plank can result in back pain. Instead, Quince suggests you tighten your core to bring your belly up to align with the upper body.
Hands in the Wrong Spot – “Your weight should be evenly distributed across fists, elbows and forearms. Your hands should be about shoulder-width apart,” Quince told TODAY. “If you’re on your elbows and forearms, you have more support. Using just your palms makes the exercise a bit more difficult. If you’re still having trouble, try to practice your form in front of a mirror and try to keep your body as straight as possible.”

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