Pushup into Rotating Side Plank

By Amara Tiebout

Photography by Jonathan Timmes

Save time on toning your upper body and core by incorporating this tried-and-true combination move, Pushup into Rotating Side Plank. It covers a lot of body territory and can be easily adjusted from medium to high intensity levels.

“It’s very time efficient, and an excellent exercise for the upper body and core,” says Caity Davis, co-owner of Fit One Studio in Old Town Alexandria.

This exercise combines a pushup with a balancing pose used in yoga. Start in a pushup position with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and rotated inward a little. Your feet and knees can either remain together (like a typical pushup), or they can be hip-distance apart. Do a pushup, then turn your entire body toward the right so you’re balancing in a side plank with your left hand on the floor. Raise your right arm into the air above your head and turn your head with your spine.

Your legs should rotate so your right foot is in front of your left foot. Pause for one to two seconds, or longer for a higher intensity workout. Then slowly and carefully rotate yourself back into the pushup position. Do another pushup, and repeat steps on your left side.

Davis recommends doing this exercise two or three days a week with two to three sets of approximately 10 repetitions. Take a 45-second break between sets.

FitOne Studio
814 N Saint Asaph St., Alexandria, VA 22314
703-548-2223
www.fitonestudio.com

Time: 5 min.
Intensity: Medium-high
Calories: 5

(January 2011)