If you think
standard planks are intense, just wait:
Chelsea Handler does a variation that ups the ante super high, and it strengthens not just her core, but her
entire body.
The comedian's trainer, Ben Bruno, recently posted a video of Handler doing the one-arm, one-leg plank rows on Instagram. Although she's turned into quite the fitness buff lately, even she's shaky during the core stabilizing exercise that Self reports strengthens the lower spine.
Even though Bruno says Handler makes the move look way easier than it is, it can be a tricky to get it right without proper training. Luckily, he has some tips to fix some common issues: "Most people will pike and rotate their hips toward the arm that’s performing the row. A little piking is fine at first and it won’t hurt you, but the goal is to work toward doing it with no rotation and a straight line from the planted foot to your head," he wrote.
"Most people will pike and rotate their hips toward the arm that’s performing the row. A little piking is fine at first and it won’t hurt you, but the goal is to work toward doing it with no rotation and a straight line from the planted foot to your head." —Ben Bruno, trainer
To make sure you're doing it correctly, Bruno said to walk your feet back further than what feels comfortable, which makes the planted arm work harder to maintain the long-lever plank position. Plus, that fires up the abs, too: "Chelsea doesn’t think these do anything for the abs, but they do," he said. "Ever since I’ve trained Chelsea, she’s told me I don’t know how to do abs and she only thinks an exercise is effective if it makes her sore. And ever since I’ve trained Chelsea, I’ve never listened to her." Trainers always know best, right?
Jennifer Garner's pre-Oscars workout involved an upbeat dance-cardio mix. Or, try the workout that will make you feel like a (sweaty) prima ballerina.
