Plank

You may already be doing the plank in your pilates or yoga classes or with your personal trainer. If you aren't doing plank, now is definitely the time to start, as it is one of the very best exercises for the oblique abdominal muscles.

If you are new to plank, I suggest you start on your elbows (as pictured above) rather than on your hands. Start by lying face down on your exercise mat. Place your elbows and forearms underneath your chest. Prop yourself up to form a bridge, using your toes and forearms (as if you were in line like a plank of wood or preparing for a push up. Maintain a flat back and do not allow your hips to sag towards the ground.

Hold this position, focusing on tightening your abs and remember, BREATHE! Maintain the position until you can no longer achieve a flat bridge. Novices may want to start with 10 seconds and work up to 1 or 2 minutes.

When you feel more comfortable, position your plank with your shoulders directly over your wrists with arms extended.

As you become advanced, you can hold your plank for 1 minute, then do 25 push ups, and then hold plank again for a minute. If you have a baby or a toddler (or you could do this with your partner), position them under you so that when you go down to your push up, you give them a kiss! They'll be delighted and you won't mind quite as much doing some extra push ups.

To work your triceps, hold your plank and then bend your elbows back towards your feet keeping them close to your chest, hold the pose still in a flat bridge and above the ground. This is called chaturanga dandasana in yoga and is very challenging and EFFECTIVE.

For the superstars, try side plank. Lie on your side with your right hand on the ground or mat. Lift yourself up to form a plank with your right arm straight and your left arm on your side. Hold the position until failure and then repeat on the other side.

Now is the time to start working on those obliques for swimsuit season!