If not, give it a try when you get a chance.

While I’m a huge fan of “functional training” I do believe the term is overused much like a “Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan Going Back to Jail” headline splashed across your favourite grocery store tabloid.

In my mind, all training should be functional. Otherwise, why are you doing it?

Hard core exercises are no different.

If the exercise doesn’t challenge your core in the manner in which it was designed, are you really getting all the benefit that you could be getting?

Resist movement and transfer energy: the ultimate core mantra.

With that in mind, this next simple exercise is a even easier to set up than the suitcase carry as it requires absolutely no equipment. However, I’m going to change the levels up a little bit.

Welcome to the Cross Over Plank.

The set up: get your body into a plank position. If you’re not strong enough to drop into the full plank, start on your knees and build up.

From this plank position, keep your body stable as you reach across with one hand and hover that hand over top of the other hand. Hold it there for 4-8 seconds, without letting your torso and hips rotate in any way. Return to the start position and switch hands.

And there you go, another episode of hard core exercises.

Yours in movement.

Dev Chengkalath

Yours in movement.

Dev Chengkalath