The 4 Biggest Mistakes You're Making in Plank

Spoiler alert: there isn't some fairy walking around handing out gold stars for a plank that lasts longer than your last relationship. Instead of going for the long haul and unnecessarily taxing your shoulder endurance, Austin Lopez, CSCS and personal trainer at DIAKADI, suggests making it super active. "Squeeze your glutes, dragging yourself toward the wall in front of you, tilting pelvis backwards and tightening the abs," he suggests, noting that a good plank should last no more than 30 seconds. "For some extra fun, add a small ball or yoga block between your knees (and squeeze) to up the tension."