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Reverse Plank is a core body exercise that also engages several other muscle groups. If you learn how to do Reverse Plank you’ll teach your body to activate your glutes, hamstrings, lower back as well as your arms.
And bonus: you get a great chest and shoulder stretch right in the middle of it all! Many people may have tried reverse planks in yoga classes, but the move itself can be used by itself or in virtually any workout you like.
It’s a great exercise to open up your chest muscles after a long arm workout, too.
Reverse Plank Exercise Instructions
- Start seated on the floor with legs long in front of your body. Place hands behind your hips slightly wider than shoulders with fingers pointed towards your hips.
- Lift hips and torso off the floor and gaze up towards the ceiling, keeping your neck relaxed. Keep your body in a long line with softly pointed toes. Hold for 30 seconds, then release to floor slowly.
Benefits Of Reverse Plank
Most people know planks for the incredible results they give you for core strength. Reverse Plank is just like all front planks, except the main muscle use comes from the backside instead of the front. There are many reasons you should incorporate Reverse Plank into your workouts. Here are just a few:
Strengthens Your Low Back
With more than 80% of the population reporting back pain at some point in their life, it is crucial to work on strengthening your lower back and the core muscles that help support it. The Reverse Plank is a move that won’t put impact or pressure on your spine, but rather encourages the entire core that surrounds it to contract and strengthen.
Opens Up The Front Of The Body
In a culture where we spend so much time slouched over a phone, computer or steering wheel, the front side muscles of our bodies can become weak and shortened. This leads to hunched over posture and tight muscles. The Reverse Plank opens and stretches the front of the body while it is strengthening the back side. This 1-2 punch is the perfect combo to help you achieve great posture and less pain.
Low-Impact, No-Equipment Ab Exercise
No equipment needed for a reverse plank; just find a little space and get started! A stronger core not only looks and feels great, but it can prevent you from low-back injuries as well! A strong, healthy core will keep you from injuring yourself doing other exercises.
Challenges The Shoulders
While the Reverse Plank is centrally focused on your core, this move also gets you to check in with your shoulders and arms not only strengthening these muscles, but also helping to stretch them out at the same time.
What Muscles Does Reverse Plank Work?
Reverse Plank is a whole body strength exercise that works your core, lower back and arms as well as your shoulders, hamstrings and glutes! While this isometric exercise is strengthening these muscles, the chest and shoulders get an amazing stretch and the front of the hips are opened.
How Many Calories Does Reverse Plank Burn?
The goal of isometric exercises is not to burn calories. In fact, the stillness of the move limits the calories you can burn. However, because it strengthens muscles and we know muscles help burn calories on a daily basis, you are still helping your overall calorie burn.
