Start planking every day and your body won’t be the same.

Maybe it was only in high school gym class, but it still counts.

And because of that, you probably know that there are certain exercises you like more than others.

A woman planking on a purple mat

But how do you strengthen your core?

Well, start planking every day, anexercise guaranteed to give you the best abs of your life.

In fact, here are theplank variations you should know for the ultimate core workout.

An older woman planking on a black mat

That’s why whydoing crunches makes your neck hurt.

So, there’s really no excuse tonottry planking on a daily basis.

So, want to know how to plank well?

A woman planking on her rug, wearing orange

First, learn the difference between all the variations of the exercise (viaHealthline).

This will work your arms and shoulders more than a low plank.

For the low plank, simply lower down onto your forearms and elbows and remain on your toes.

A woman with impressive abs

Thisreallyworks your abs, as well as the rest of your body.

Finally, you might also try someside planksto isolate your obliques and other muscle groups.

Seriously, if you want a six-pack, you better be doing planks.

A woman with a small waist wearing a crop top

Planks work the entirety of your core muscles, ensuring that your strength truly builds over time.

Talk about more bang for your buck!

Um, hello, corsets anyone?

A woman wearing blue doing a side plank

It’s no secret that having a smaller waist is seen as desirable, and it always has been.

Don’t hurt yourself!

The reason why planking is so effective at burning calories is because it works your entire body.

A woman struggling with back pain

But that’s not all.

So, to make the most of your plank, squeeze those buns!

But another thing that happens when you work out is that your brain gets some exercise as well.

A woman planking next to her dog

Fortunately, planking can help improve your posture, as it turns out.

So, if you want to prevent pain from bad posture, get planking.

The plank is especially practical in injury recovery, as are most functional exercises.

A conceptual illustration of the human brain

And while that might not be what youwantto hear, it’s true.

Exercise in general is a great way to improve your mental health.

As if that wasn’t cool enough, plankingspecificallycan help boost your mental health and reduce stress.

A woman sitting at a desk with back issues

And by getting your heart rate up, planks also boost your mood.

Maybe you love yoga, or HIIT workouts, or just going on long walks.

Whatever it is, it can seriously improve your life when you find something that works for you.

A woman with pink hair planking

But if that thing is running, it comes with more than its fair share of complications.

Luckily, planking every day might make you a stronger and faster runner.

Additionally, planks help improve your running speed.

Three faces on the pain scale, concept

“Creating stiffness in the trunk helps move your legs.”

Plank every day and you’ll definitely see an improvement in your running time, that’s for sure.

Just double-check you’re notjogging incorrectly.

A woman jogging outside

“Long planks do more damage than good,” he revealed in an interview withRunner’s World.

“Fitness should be about functional, real-life movements.

Holding a plank for a long time isn’t functional.”

A woman planking on a black mat

Clearly, thereissuch a thing as planking for too long.

Whether it be physically or mentally, planking is meant to make you stronger.

And it literally does just that, even more than you might realize.

A woman planking with weights

“This includes the increased ability to lift heavier weights and [have] better sports performance.”

Planks will make youso much stronger,so why are you still reading this?