Abdominal Planking And Piking

Planking, this is often confused for a rather humorous style of photographs used for social networking sites, usually depicting one of your friends lying horizontally in an awkward place at an inconvenient time. Perhaps they climbed a tree, and then found some way to stiffen their body horizontally across some branches, or they are lying underneath the Monroe statue in New York face down on the side walk while tourists are pointing Monroe's skirt.

Well this is humorous, but real planking is a way to strengthening your core muscles and abdomen. Although some of these pictures your friends are taking probably have them in some pretty strenuous positions.

Here is how it is down, find a bench and place your twos on it. Assume a pushup position while your feet are on the bench and your hands are on the ground.

Your body should be close to parallel with the ground, however if you are a little less than parallel that is fine. Hold your body straight, no sagging in the legs or the back.

If at all possible you want to look like a table or a robot. Now that you have the position all workout out, start to walk in a circle with your hands.

Keep your feet secured in their single point and your back should maintain plank-ability. This exercise is meant to look uncomfortable unnatural.

But you will immediately feel the burn and strain deep in the core muscles of your body. Do about four rotations that should be a decent work out for the average person.

However if you are little beyond average you can try five. There isn't really any harm in pushing your limits as far as you can go.

Similar to the plank is the medicine ball pike. This one takes a good amount of balance and flexibility.

You should probably not attempt this exercise unless you are somewhat experienced in athletics already. Get a medicine ball and set up a pushup position with your feet on the ball.

This will be called our medicine plank, now be sure that the tips of your toes are on the ball. Slowly bring the medicine ball toward your hands, by lifting your buttocks into the air and keeping your legs straight the entire time.

This should look like a rather gnarly yoga move, which doubles as an intensive abdominal workout and also works the lower back quite a bit too. Your feet should roll on the ball toward your face and hands no problem; however, maintaining balance may be a bit difficult if you are not very strong or experience in that sort of thing.

Start exercising your abdomen. It looks really good for when you shirt is off.

Good-looking shirtless pictures are a great way to boost online popularity. So shape up those abs with the planks and pikes and always remember to have fun.

Destry Masterson is a health, fitness and nutrition expert. She has written articles about exercise and recommends http://www.proform.com for information about exercise equipment. Contact Info: Destry Masterson - MyOnlineArticleWriting@gmail.com - Twitter: @DestryMasterson