Plank Pose

Plank Pose, or the “yoga pushup,” is one of many
positions you do in a traditional Sun Salutation
sequence, but you can also perform it by itself and
hold it for half a minute or more for strength
building. It’s good for fortifying your core muscles,
and strengthens the arms, abdomen, wrists and spine.
It is also a precursor to more challenging arm
balances.

To perform this pose, start in Downward-Facing Dog.
Then breathe in and draw your torso forward until your
arms are straight, perpendicular to the floor, and the
shoulders are aligned directly over the wrists. Your
torso should be parallel to the floor, with your body
in a straight line and eyes looking down at your hands
on the floor.

If you’re a beginner, loop a strap around your upper
arms in this pose, just above the elbows — that will
help you build strength, especially if you’re able to
push the inner arms out against this strap.