

A high plank may be one of the best exercises to annihilate your core, but it can also put a lot of strain on your wrists too. This is pretty common, as your forearms and hands are helping to support your entire body weight. Dropping down from your hands to your forearms is one option, or you could try this wrist-friendly workout instead.
These five exercises from Fitness Coach, Elise Young, won’t just target your ‘six-pack’ muscles (the rectus abdominis and external obliques) but also the muscles deep in your abdomen, lower back, hips, and pelvis— those all-important core muscles that aid stability and protect the spine.
A post shared by Elise | Fitness Professional (@elisesbodyshop)
A photo posted by on
A word of warning, just because this workout doesn’t include a high plank, don’t mistake it for being ‘easy’, it’ll still leave your midsection burning afterwards! You’ll need to grab a dumbbell (it doesn’t need to be too heavy) or if you’re at home, just fill up a water bottle.
Aim to complete three to four rounds of the exercises below, taking a 15-20 second rest in between each one and a 40-60 second rest between rounds. If you’re not sure how to do any of the exercises, watch the short video above, especially for the partial sit-up. Also, make sure you have something soft beneath you to support your back. This is the workout:
- 10 partial single-arm sit-ups
- 15 leg lifts
- Side plank (on forearm) with dumbbell reach
- 15 reverse crunches
- 30-second forearm plank with dumbbell pull-through
If these exercises feel a little too advanced, these four moves are a great alternative for beginners (no planks are involved, either). Otherwise, check out these three core exercises that, according to a fitness coach, we should all be doing.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts

Bryony’s T3’s official ‘gym-bunny’ and Active Staff Writer, covering all things fitness. She recently completed her Level 3 PT qualification with the PFCA to bring a deeper understanding of training techniques, fitness trends, and wellness advice to her writing. In her spare time, you will find her in her natural habitat - the gym - where her style of training is a hybrid of bodybuilding and powerlifting. Bryony loves writing about accessible workouts, nutrition and testing innovative fitness products that help you reach your fitness goals and take your training to the next level.
-
How pineapple and linen will make your next car more eco-friendly
The Renault Emblème is a rolling laboratory for the eco-friendly car of the near-future
By Alistair Charlton
-
Forget boring cardio – this three-move barbell workout crushes through calories
And builds plenty of muscle too!
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
Forget boring cardio – this three-move barbell workout crushes through calories
And builds plenty of muscle too!
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
This two-move total body boosts heart health and builds muscle endurance
Two moves, 15 minutes and a full fitness fix
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
A beginner-friendly dumbbell workout to boost strength and muscle size
Get started on your strength training journey with this simple four-move workout
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
This bodyweight EMOM workout cranks up your metabolism and builds muscle endurance
20 minutes and a little grit is all you need
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
Three exercises to 'life-proof' your shoulders, according to a mobility expert
Healthy shoulders mean better movement, more strength and less injury
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
Build unshakeable core strength with a kettlebell and these three exercises
Add this to the end of your workout to fire up your midsection muscles
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
Supercharge your aerobic engine with this three-move rower workout
Improve your cardiovascular fitness and burn through calories
By Bryony Firth-Bernard
-
Arnold Schwarzenegger's 30-minute dumbbell workout for full-body gains
Increase your strength and muscle mass in the time it takes to make tea – what’s not to love?
By Bryony Firth-Bernard