Plank jacks | Illustrated Exercise Guide

Primary muscles: Core
Secondary muscles: Lower body, shoulders
Equipment: No equipment

PLANK JACKS INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start in a push up position with your feet together.
2. Hop your feet as far as you can and land softly on your toes.
3. Jump again to bring your feet back together and repeat.

PROPER FORM AND BREATHING PATTERN

Don’t let your hips drop, keep your spine stable and try to maintain a slow and steady breathing pattern. Pull your abs in tight and keep a straight line from your shoulders down to your ankles.

EXERCISE BENEFITS

The plank is a great exercise to develop core strength and to alleviate lower back pain. By adding the jumping jacks movement you’re turning this exercise into a great cardio workout that elevates your heart rate and burns even more calories. Doing plank jacks also improves your cardiovascular endurance and increases your metabolism.

DEMONSTRATION

SETS AND REPS

Do plank jacks for 30 seconds to 1 minute or complete 2 or 3 sets of 8 to 10 repetitions. If you’re a beginner start with regular planks and jumping jacks and practice proper form with these two exercises first.