Only in plank form.

This core workout targets your core muscles with a strategic, super-effective form of high-intensity circuit training. Return to the starting position. Our content does not constitute a medical consultation. Start seated with knees bent and feet on the floor, holding the medicine ball to your chest. Lie faceup, holding the medicine ball overhead. Briefly hold this position before returning it to center. We get it. Step 2: Keeping your belly button pressed in, twist your left hip till it slightly touches the mat and then back to the plank position.

Here are two options for including Russian Twists in your core workouts. The RKC plank, or Russian Kettlebell Challenge plank, was invented by former Soviet special forces trainer Pavel Tsatsouline as part of his fitness programme.

Pastures harder. This increases the stabilising force required from your glutes to maintain the plank position. RUSSIAN TWISTS. The Best Strength and Power Superset for Athletes, Playing Multiple Sports Helped Patrick Mahomes Become the NFL's Most Magical QB, Why Nutrition Isn't About Making the 'Perfect' Choice, Quick Cues to Clean Up Your Kettlebell Swing, A Peloton Bike Probably Won't Get You Your Dream Body. Return to the starting position by bringing the ball up and across your body on the same diagonal. The Russian twist can be incorporated into any ab circuit, but Donohoe likes pairing it with an upper body exercise like a chest press, single-arm dumbbell row, or bent over row.. This next plank twist variant is a little confusing. Russian twist with medicine ball . The result is a challenging exercise that will leave your abs and obliques burning and fatigued. Even if you're not looking to get a six-pack, you're still going to want to do ab exercises—a strong core is super important after all! Lie facedown, arms extended in a T, with right hand on top of a medicine ball. Start in high plank position with both hands on medicine ball. For young and healthy athletes, this likely won't cause a problem in the short term, but it can damage your discs over time and cause or exacerbate lower-back pain.

Step 3: Then twist so your right hip slightly touches the mat and return to the plank position.

Make sure to contract abs and keep neck and shoulders relaxed.

You Got A Killer Workout!

Stand with feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent, holding medicine ball with both hands. Place both hands on medicine ball with arms fully extended and legs straight behind you. How to do Plank Hip Twist: Step 1: Start out in a plank position with your elbows on the mat, on your toes with your stomach off the mat.

LUMBAR SPINE

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The focus is on whole body tension – the kind of bum-clenching intensity you would feel while watching England lose another World Cup penalty shootout.

| Here's Why. It's OK to rotate slightly through your upper back, but make sure your lower back stays locked in place. Allow the ball to gently fall overhead as you lower back down to the starting position. Keep feet flexed with heels lightly touching the floor. Do 8–16 reps. Do 8–16 reps per side.

Know more about the risks here.

Avoid touching the weight to the ground as this almost guarantees that you will overrotate and twist through your lower back.

Do not allow knees to touch floor.

Finding this stable position and maintaining it is far more effective than flailing around.