planks are an exercise you’re probably pretty familiar with—after all, sometimes it feels like they’re in every fitness class ever. Basic as they may seem, though, there’s actually a lot that goes into the perfect core-shaking, ab-quaking plank. And the better your form, the better your results.
There are endless plank variations—side planks, forearm planks, you name it—but high planks are probably the most pared-down version of this challenging exercise. “The high plank targets the core, which is your body’s stabilizer,” says NYC-based trainer Courtney Paul, an instructor at RIPPED Fitness. But it’s a great total-body move—when you’re in proper form you’ll also be working your arms, butt, and legs.
Nailing the high plank can help you crush more challenging variations of the move down the road (this advanced plank, anyone?). Here’s how it’s done