Planks are a fantastic core exercise for nearly everyone. They work our deepest abdominal muscles like the transverse abdominis, they can be modified or progressed easily depending on your fitness level, and they don’t require any additional equipment besides a yoga mat.

The downside is that planks can be both boring and intimidating. As a certified personal trainer, I find that many of my clients dread doing them (and usually skip them when exercising on their own). While I’ll admit that planks aren’t exactly the most stimulating exercise you can do, omitting core stability work can have dire consequences for your entire body.

Fortunately, there are other moves that can effectively target your deep abdominals. Instead of forcing yourself through another round of planks, try adding these

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