Plank position a great starting point to work the waist, core

Traditional ab exercises are great for working the waist. But sometimes the body can get used to doing the same exercises over and over. Today I’m encouraging you to change it up and add in some core and waist exercises from a plank position.

Holding a plank and then performing exercises is a great overall mid-section workout that targets the front of the core, sides of the waist, and low back. Try out these three moves today:

Criss Cross in Plank

Brian Ernst/Sun-Times

Come into a plank position with your shoulders over your wrists and toes on the ground behind you.

Pull your navel in towards your spine and create a flat back. From here, bring your right knee across your stomach and chest towards your left elbow, and then place it back down in the plank position. Then lift the left knee up and bring it across toward your right elbow.

Continue this for 10 times on each side and really work the internal and external obliques. Stabilize by keeping your tailbone pointing toward your heels and your shoulders over your wrists.

Side Plank with Side Leg Lift

Brian Ernst/Sun-Times

From plank, turn onto your left hand into a side plank facing the right. Reach your right arm up towards the ceiling and relax the shoulder. Pull your abs in.

Stack the edges of the feet on top of each other. To step it up, you can lift the right leg up and hold for a count of three, and then place it down and come back to plank.

With both hands on the ground, turn to the left and then lift the left arm up toward the ceiling. Repeat the same thing on the other side side.

Go back and forth five times to each side plank.

Plank with Shoulder Taps

Brian Ernst/Sun-Times

From plank position, spread your fingers really wide and press down with the palms of your hands.

Keep your tailbone reaching toward your heels and lift your right hand off the ground.

Tap your left shoulder with that hand, and then put it back down. Tap your right shoulder with your left hand, and then put it back down.

Repeat this 10 times to each side.

Add these plank exercises into your workout routine and feel your core strengthen and tighten in no time!

Stephanie Mansour wants you to ‘“step up” your fitness regimen. Mansour coaches private clients in weight loss, provides fitness/health/lifestyles advice on national TV shows, and offers her free 21 Day Challenge online. Check out her fitness tips every Thursday in the Well section of the Chicago Sun-Times. And visit her website at stepitupwithsteph.com.