When it comes to staying as fit as celebrities like Jada Pinkett Smith, sometimes this journey can be hindered due to a few obstacles. Firstly, most of us are unable to hire personal trainers that will help ensure we stay in tip top shape. There’s also the factor of not finding enough time to travel to the gym to get a good sweat session in.
Luckily, movie star and fitness fanatic Jada Pinkett Smith has found a solution to how we can all enjoy a good workout, without leaving the comfort of our own homes.
Up against the wall
Glimpsing through Jada Pinkett’s Instagram, it’s suffice to say that the 47 (yes, 47) year old star is serious about her fitness game. This past October, the star shared a video of herself doing an intense, full body and plank-workout workout with not a single gym equipment in sight.
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The routine is dubbed the “7 Exercise Core & #WallWorkoutChallenge” and it was created by Los Angeles-based trainer Jeanette Jenkins.
Planks are one of the simplest yet effective exercises out there. Read on to find out what benefits they can provide.
Benefits of planks
1. Toned core
Most people look to planks as a way to strengthen their core. Having a stronger core improves mobility, betters posture, and protects your spine.
2. Improved posture
As most of us work 9 to 5 desk jobs, poor posture is unfortunately quite common. Poor posture can cause chronic pain, however, planks can help to prevent this.
Planks require you to keep your back straight and over time, your body will become accustomed to this position, strengthening your back and improving your posture. Good posture eases any stress on the spine and also prevents tension headaches.
3. Increased flexibility
Lack of flexibility can increase injury risk thus performing planks can help to protect you against this.
Planks help to strengthen the body by stretching out the hamstrings, shoulders, and collarbones.
4. Improved balance
When it comes to planks, balance is important, and regularly performing them can help to improve your balance. Balance is essential to everything that we do, thus it’s vital to engage in activities that will help to improve it.
5. Reduced risk of back pain and injury
Back pain can be extremely debilitating, yet planks can help to ease the tension on the spine, reducing the risk of back pain and injury.
Also, by improving posture and strengthening the core, planks help to strengthen back muscles thus protecting and improving back health.
Jada Pinkett Smith’s Wall Workout
Not that you’ve seen all the benefits associated with planking, why don’t you adopt Jada Pinkett’s at-home wall- workout?
Wall Mountain Climbers
- Stand with your feet shoulder-distance apart from a wall with your back facing it.
- Place your hands on the floor with your shoulders stacked over your hands and wrists.
- Walk your feet up the wall, keeping your shoulders and hands stacked.
- With your core tight, drive one knee to the opposite elbow and then repeat on the other side.
Wall Plank Toe Taps
- Stand in a plank position.
- Tap one toe to the ground and then repeat on the other side.
Lateral Plank Walk
- Stand in a plank position.
- Simultaneously step your left foot and hand to your left. Then, step your right foot and hand to your left. Repeat, alternating sides.
Oblique Knee Drives
- Stand in a plank position.
- Drive one knee to the opposite elbow to touch your hand and then repeat on the other side.
Plank Walk-Up with Burpees
- Stand in a plank position.
- Put one hand on the wall while the other hand stays on the ground.
- Once you feel stable, put the other hand on the wall and then walk one hand back down to the floor followed by the other hand.
- Jump your feet forward, so you’re in a low squat, and then jump straight up, exploding from your heels.
- Avoid rocking your body side to side by keeping your core tight as you do the plank walk-up.
