Watch: Malavika Mohanan is busy ‘amping up fitness levels to the peak’

“Next schedule of #Thangalaan begins in 2 days, so back to amping up fitness levels to the peak,” she captioned a series of mirror selfies.

In another Instagram post, the actor also revealed her fondness for planks, calling herself a “plank baby for life”.

“Plank baby for life. Most low maintenance exercise to do, no? Anywhere, anytime for a couple of minutes and you’ve worked pretty much all your main muscles. And all you need is a yoga mat or a towel. Who else likes planks as much as I do?” she captioned a post in which she could be seen holding an elbow plank.

Why should one do planks?

As an isometric exercise that helps maintains the length of the muscles, planks challenge the low back and deep core muscles, building both control and endurance of these muscles, said Varun Rattan, co-founder, The Body Science Academy, Noida.

How to do them properly?

*Lie face down with your feet together and forearms on the ground. Keep the elbows below your shoulders. Tighten your abs and glutes by drawing in the belly button and squeezing the gluteal muscles.

*Lift your body off the ground and keep it in a straight line — from your head to your feet.

Rattan reiterated that planks are just not about getting your hips off the ground. “This results in an over arched lower back, raised hips, drooping neck, or slouched shoulders, all in an attempt to avoid touching the ground. It’s important to pay attention to your form and avoid these mistakes to ensure a quality plank,” he advised.

What is the correct way to do planks? (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

How long should you hold planks?

If you can maintain a proper form while holding the standard plank position for two minutes, it’s time to take it up a notch to keep benefiting from it, said Rattan. “You can try increasing the difficulty level by doing it on an unstable surface or elevating your elbows above shoulder level,” Rattan told indianexpress.com.

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