At first I wasn't sure about joining because planks can get boring, but the challenge was really fun. I learned a bunch of different kinds of planks and watching everyone in the group complete them really kept me motivated to keep up.
One of the new kinds of planks I tried was this one, called the crouching panther. I was surprised that this stationary plank could work my abs and quads so much! I really felt the burn.
I also really liked this one, which was also new to me. It's called the dolphin plank:
And of course, there were some I'm familiar with and really enjoy, like the spiderman plank. (You can do this one low or high.)
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| You alternate sides and bring your knee in to touch your elbow, then return to starting position. |
For each of the above planks, you complete two sets of 30-45 seconds. I chose to just do 1:30 straight through, which felt a little more challenging
I'm pretty skeptical of the whole "beach body coaching" thing because so many of my friends who become coaches end up shoving their product and program down our throats. It ends up feeling like a pyramid scheme. But Michelle simply lives by example and makes you want to join in her journey because she's so positive and motivating. (It's how she is in real life, too; what you see on her Insta or Facebook is truly her.)
It was nice to have this plank challenge to work on while I was taking time off from running for this foot issue. It kept me feeling motivated and strong even while resting. I plan to repeat the challenge on my own now that it's over.
Do you like to participate in group fitness challenges?
What plank variations do you like?
ABK
I want to try that crouching panther but I am at work and I'm convinced the minute I assume the position, someone will walk in my room hahahaha!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried it yet? I'd love to see you doing this in your classroom haha!
DeleteNo I forgot about it! I will try it tomorrow. It's late and I'm all cuddled up right now. :)
DeleteI always called the crouching panther "floating table", since it's the same as table, but with the knees lifted. I may have made that up, though. haha! I love dolphin plank (and by love, I mean love to hate). It's such a simple posture, but it can be very challenging!
ReplyDeleteAnything that involves going into a "pike-like" position is tough for me, so I love the challenge of dolphin, too.
DeleteThe only beachbody related thing I have ever participated in was a plank challenge!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind beachbody fitness related groups, programs or advice when hosted by a certified personal trainer. If I made a full time living out of personal training I would probably see lots of appeal in being a beachbody affiliate. What bothers me is when every stay-at-home mom I know is doling out fitness and nutrition advice. I want to cry when I see these "let's all fast for a week and then only drink shakeology for a week" posts. >:(
I agree; some people do it really well, but some lead the charge into weirdly unhealthy habits and diet techniques. I'm all for at-home businesses and empowering women to make some money, but some of them become almost cult-like!
DeleteSometimes these little challenges are just what we need to keep us on track!!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of beachbody coaching, but I will usually participate in a challenge if I can fit it in to my schedule. I wonder if it is an East Coast thing (Beachbody)? Or maybe I'm just not the target demographic?
ReplyDeleteIt was created by Sean T, the guy who does T25, Insanity, and Hip-Hop Abs. I think the name came about because it's catchy and creates the image in your mind of what you want to look like: beach-ready!
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