Side Plank: 6 Reasons Why You Must Add This Exercise To Your Routine Ahead Of This Festive Season

As the festive season is upon us, we are trying our best to stay active and healthy. We are exercising to ensure our metabolism is improved so that we can avoid gaining weight after eating all the delicacies our mothers make at home.

One of the best exercises that target muscles of the entire body is the side plank. It is a yoga pose that has several benefits, and we connected with Kumar Saurav, a yoga instructor, to understand reasons why we should add this exercise to our festive season routine.

Benefits Of Side Plank: Works Up Gluteal Muscles

The task of gluteal muscles is to keep our body upright and push it forward. If you have strong gluteal muscles, they will facilitate hassle-free walking and proper alignment of the pelvis.

Practising side planks can help to work up these muscles. It helps to maintain the posture. If you experience pain while walking or running, this yoga pose can help you experience relief.

Benefits Of Side Plank: Reduces Belly Fat

Many wonder if side planks can help to reduce belly fat. Yes, it can because it works up your abdominal muscles. The yoga pose might seem easy to ace, but when you try to hold the position, you will experience a mildly painful stretch around your abdomen.

If you practise it every day, you will not only shed the weight around your tummy but would also notice a toned belly.

Benefits Of Side Plank: Works Up Hip Flexors

Hip flexors refer to a group of muscles responsible for the movement of hips. This exercise is excellent for hip flexors if you experience sharp pain while sitting or moving. When you are able to hold the position for long, it will help to correct your posture too.

Benefits Of Side Plank: Reduces Shoulder Pain

Side planks are safe if you experience shoulder pain unless you have been advised by a doctor to avoid any sort of exercise that puts pressure on your shoulder. When you put your body’s weight entirely on your shoulders and legs, it can be a little painful at first, but this exercise works up the shoulder muscles to reduce pain. It helps you stabilise the posture.

Benefits Of Side Plank: Works Up Pectoral Muscles

The pectoral is the region on the anterior chest wall. If you experience pain in this area, a side plank is a great exercise to stretch the muscles and alleviate the pain. However, you have to ensure not to overdo it while starting out. You should try to hold the pose for 30 seconds at first and increase the timings slowly.

Benefits Of Side Plank: Reduces Back Pain

People with complaints of back pain can immensely benefit from practising side planks. It helps to stabilise the spine and strengthens the back muscles to help you experience relief from pain. It is one of the few exercises that builds your core without putting extreme pressure on your back.

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