Finding strength in plank is hard. It’s a mental game, mostly. We all come to plank with memories of doing pushups, maybe as a kid or young adult, and not being able to do as many as “so-and-so” which left us feeling weak or inadequate.
Let’s try to get rid of that negative chatter!
Instead, let’s look at the plank transition into Chaturanga Dandasana a wee bit differently. We do this movement so many times in a vinyasa yoga practice, and we often don’t take the time to really think about what our body is doing and how we could possibly change it.
Start in plank and lift one leg up; pick your favorite leg. It doesn’t matter. Now point the foot on the lifted leg like in the picture. Slowly lower down into Chaturanga Dandasana; now press the top of the lifted foot into your mat and transfer your weight into it so that you can flip the other foot as you press into your hands and transition into Upward-Facing-Dog pose (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana).
Continue playing around with this transition, using the same leg, until it feels natural in your body. Be sure that nothing else has changed in the pose, your shoulders are still stacked over the wrists, and your legs are engaged. As you become more comfortable in this transition, you’ll notice a lightness in your body and increased core strength.
