Inchworm

Walk the hands out to a plank, then walk the feet up to the hands, travelling forward. Three sets of eight repetitions with the legs staying straight before you add a push-up at the front.

DIFFICULTY
Beginner
EQUIPMENT
Bodyweight · Mat
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Hamstrings · Abs
ALSO WORKS
Deltoids · Calves · Serratus Anterior · Lower back
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Stand tall, then hinge and place the hands on the floor in front of the feet.
  2. 02Walk the hands forward until the body reaches a full plank.
  3. 03Hold the plank briefly with the glutes squeezed.
  4. 04Keeping the legs as straight as possible, walk the feet in toward the hands.
  5. 05Stand up or repeat directly into the next hand walkout.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Legs stay long as the feet walk in.
  2. 02Hips down at the front, plank not pike.
  3. 03Small steps with the feet, do not jump them in.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Bending the knees to walk the feet in, which removes the hamstring stretch that is half the point.
  2. 02Hips sagging in the plank, which loads the low back rather than the trunk.
  3. 03Rushing the walk so the shoulders take a sudden load rather than a progressive one.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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