THOU SHALT NOT…

Waste time doing tons of crunches

‘Crunches aren’t worth it,’ says Klika. They just don’t do much to work any part of the core except the rectus abdominis. Plus, if you sit and hunch at your desk all day, the last thing you need is more forward-bending movements, he adds.

Fret about marathon planks

Holding a four-minute plank might be a cool challenge, but it doesn’t actually translate to everyday life or sports, says Arent. The better choice? A variety of moves that work on stiffness, rotation and anti-rotation (like the ones you’ll find in our plan).

Skip unilateral moves

One-limbed exercises are a brilliant way to increase core activation. They can be tough, so start with body-weight options like a one-legged glute bridge, step-up or Bulgarian split squat. Using one limb means the core has to work overtime to make sure the body stays stable, says Klika.