Once you shore up your core strength, adding leg lifts to the Plank Challenge will hit your glutes as well as your abs.
Image Credit: Tempura/Getty Images/LIVESTRONG.com Your core powers everything you do. Each day of the 4-Week Plank Challenge, you’ll try a new plank variation to improve your core strength and endurance. Get all the details on the challenge here. Sit-ups and crunches are mainstays of a classic core workout, but they’re not doing your abs as many favors as you might think.
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In fact, planks can actually engage more of your midsection — and help you improve your posture, balance and muscular endurance in the process.
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For Week 3 of the 4-Week Plank Challenge, we upped the intensity with a set of more challenging plank variations to push your core strength and incorporate more work from your glutes.
Remember, each day you’ll do 2 sets of a different plank variation. Hold each plank for 30 seconds, or if you’re ready to progress, this week you can aim for 60 seconds. The longer you hold, the stronger you’ll get. Just make sure you’re able to maintain proper form the entire time.
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Below, Shawna Davis, RYT-200, yoga teacher and creator of Froing and Flowing, demonstrates this week's moves, along with step-by-step instructions for each plank variation. If you keep scrolling to the very end, there's also a video with all the variations in one place.
Challenge Day 15: Classic Plank With Leg Lift
Skill Level
Intermediate
Time
30 Sec
Region
Core
Start in a straight-arm plank, making sure your body forms a line from head to hips to heels. Lift one foot a few inches and hold for 15 seconds. Set that foot down. Lift the other foot and hold for 15 seconds.
Show Instructions
Challenge Day 16: Plank With Hamstring Lift
Skill Level
Intermediate
Time
30 Sec
Region
Core
Begin in a straight-arm plank. Bend one leg at the knee and pulse your foot up toward the ceiling 10 times. Lower that leg to the ground and repeat on the other side.
Show Instructions
Challenge Day 17: Side Forearm Plank
Skill Level
Beginner
Time
30 Sec
Region
Core
Start in a forearm plank.
Roll to one side, balancing on one forearm and the outer edge of your bottom foot.
Press into your forearm to keep your hips lifted. Raise your top arm overhead.
Hold for 30 seconds. When you do this variation again later today, roll to the opposite side.
Show Instructions
Tip To modify, bend your top leg and plant that foot a bit in front of you for added support. You can also lower your bottom knee (or both knees) to the ground.
Challenge Day 18: Side Forearm Plank Curl
Skill Level
Intermediate
Time
30 Sec
Region
Core
Start in a forearm side plank with your top hand behind your head. Twist so that your top elbow reaches down toward your bottom elbow. Lift back up. Keep twisting for 30 seconds. When you do this variation again later today, switch sides.
Show Instructions
Tip You can keep both legs straight or modify by bending your top leg and bringing that foot to the ground slightly in front of you for support.
Challenge Day 19: Reverse Plank
Skill Level
Intermediate
Time
30 Sec
Region
Core
Sit with your legs extended in front of you. Place your hands a few inches behind you, fingers pointing toward your feet. Lift your hips off the floor with your weight in your hands and heels. Your body should still be in a straight line from head to hips to heels. Hold for 30 seconds.
Show Instructions
Related Reading Doing Lots of Push-Ups? You Need This Body-Weight Back Exercise Too
Challenge Day 20: Lateral Leg Tap Plank
Skill Level
Intermediate
Time
30 Sec
Region
Core
Begin in a high plank. Tap one foot out to the side 3 times. Extend your leg farther on each tap. Return to the starting position. Repeat on the other side for 3 taps. Continue alternating legs for 30 seconds.
Show Instructions
Challenge Day 21: Single-Leg Side Plank
Skill Level
Intermediate
Time
30 Sec
Region
Core
Start in a forearm side plank. Lift your top leg several inches. Hold for 30 seconds. Switch sides when you do this variation again later today.
Show Instructions
Tip To modify, bend your top leg and bring that foot to the ground in front of you or lower your bottom knee.
Follow along with Elise Joan, yoga teacher and creator of Barre Blend, as she demonstrates all seven of Week 3’s plank variations in one video. Ready for More? Get the final (and toughest!) seven plank variations in Week 4 of the 4-Week Plank Challenge.
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Advertisement
Once you shore up your core strength, adding leg lifts to the Plank Challenge will hit your glutes as well as your abs.
Image Credit: Tempura/Getty Images/LIVESTRONG.com
Your core powers everything you do. Each day of the 4-Week Plank Challenge, you’ll try a new plank variation to improve your core strength and endurance. Get all the details on the challenge here.
Image Credit: Tempura/Getty Images/LIVESTRONG.com
Your core powers everything you do. Each day of the 4-Week Plank Challenge, you’ll try a new plank variation to improve your core strength and endurance. Get all the details on the challenge here.
Skill Level
Intermediate
Time
30 Sec
Region
Core
Start in a straight-arm plank, making sure your body forms a line from head to hips to heels. Lift one foot a few inches and hold for 15 seconds. Set that foot down. Lift the other foot and hold for 15 seconds.
Show Instructions
Skill Level
Intermediate
Time
30 Sec
Region
Core
Begin in a straight-arm plank. Bend one leg at the knee and pulse your foot up toward the ceiling 10 times. Lower that leg to the ground and repeat on the other side.
Show Instructions
Skill Level
Beginner
Time
30 Sec
Region
Core
Start in a forearm plank.
Roll to one side, balancing on one forearm and the outer edge of your bottom foot.
Press into your forearm to keep your hips lifted. Raise your top arm overhead.
Hold for 30 seconds. When you do this variation again later today, roll to the opposite side.
Show Instructions
Skill Level
Beginner
Time
30 Sec
Region
Core
To modify, bend your top leg and plant that foot a bit in front of you for added support. You can also lower your bottom knee (or both knees) to the ground.
Start in a forearm side plank with your top hand behind your head. Twist so that your top elbow reaches down toward your bottom elbow. Lift back up. Keep twisting for 30 seconds. When you do this variation again later today, switch sides.
Show Instructions
You can keep both legs straight or modify by bending your top leg and bringing that foot to the ground slightly in front of you for support.
Sit with your legs extended in front of you. Place your hands a few inches behind you, fingers pointing toward your feet. Lift your hips off the floor with your weight in your hands and heels. Your body should still be in a straight line from head to hips to heels. Hold for 30 seconds.
Show Instructions
Doing Lots of Push-Ups? You Need This Body-Weight Back Exercise Too
Begin in a high plank. Tap one foot out to the side 3 times. Extend your leg farther on each tap. Return to the starting position. Repeat on the other side for 3 taps. Continue alternating legs for 30 seconds.
Show Instructions
Start in a forearm side plank. Lift your top leg several inches. Hold for 30 seconds. Switch sides when you do this variation again later today.
Show Instructions
To modify, bend your top leg and bring that foot to the ground in front of you or lower your bottom knee.
Get the final (and toughest!) seven plank variations in Week 4 of the 4-Week Plank Challenge.
