BUS 449a The importance of planking

Hello, fellow fitness maniacs!
The first post this week is about planking and how it affects your body.
We all know what planking is. What many of us don't know, however, is that it greatly exercises almost all muscles in the body and stimulates us on several levels.
Let's first start with a brief description on how to properly plank. To do so, get in the push-up position, but instead of putting your hands on the ground, put your elbows directly below your shoulders. Keep a straight line from your feet to your neck by tightly squeezing your glutes and abs. Hold for as much as you can.
Yeah, easier said than done, I know. For now I have been able to hold in that position for about a minute. The easiest part of this exercise is that it can be performed at home. All you need is a mat. And that's pretty much it on the easy side:))) Planking, however, contract core muscles groups including those that stabilize your spine and hips. As a result, you end up with a better posture of your body and you feel much more flexible. It also stretches muscle which have stiffened during the day due to uncomfortable sitting desk position at work, and therefore relieves you and decreases the stress level. Lastly, planking strengthens your body overall as it exercises upper, mid and lower muscles at the same time. So, what's your planking record? Let me know in the comments below :)))