Bird Dog Plank

Master core stability and balance with the Bird Dog Plank. This dynamic exercise strengthens your abs, lower back, glutes, and shoulders by challenging

IntermediateWaist Body weight

Movement: Compound
Force: Static
Per set: 1 min
Rest: 30s

Get Ellim — Free

Free · iPhone only · Available on the App Store

Variations of Bird Dog Plank

Compound

Frog planche

Waist · Obliques · Body weight

Advanced

Description

Bird Dog Plank is a whole body exercise that focuses on core strength and stability, challenging the abs, lower back, glutes, and shoulders.

Save Bird Dog Plank to a routine

Log sets, reps, and weight as you train — free in the Ellim app.

Get Ellim — Free

How to do Bird Dog Plank

01
Setup
Start in a high plank position with hands directly under your shoulders and feet hip-width apart, ensuring your body forms a straight line from head to heels.
02
Setup
Engage your core by drawing your navel towards your spine and maintaining a neutral spine, avoiding any arching or rounding of your back.
03
Simultaneously extend your right arm straight forward to shoulder height and your left leg straight back to hip height, keeping your hips level and core tight.
04
Hold this extended position briefly, focusing on controlled stability, then slowly and with control return your arm and leg to the starting high plank position while exhaling.
05
Repeat the movement on the opposite side, extending your left arm forward and your right leg backward, maintaining core engagement throughout the entire movement.
06
Alternate sides for the desired duration or repetitions, ensuring each extension is smooth and controlled, avoiding any jerky movements or loss of spinal neutrality.

Tips

Focus on slow, controlled movements rather than speed to maximize core engagement and stability throughout the exercise.
Imagine balancing a glass of water on your lower back to help maintain a neutral spine and prevent hip rotation or sagging.
Actively press through your supporting hand and foot to create a stable base and engage the shoulder and hip stabilizers more effectively.
Exhale as you extend your arm and leg, and inhale as you return to the plank position, using your breath to brace your core.

Common mistakes

Sagging Hips: Allowing your hips to drop towards the floor indicates a lack of core engagement; actively draw your navel to your spine and squeeze your glutes to maintain a straight line.
Rotating Hips: If your hips twist when extending a limb, focus on keeping your hips square to the floor by engaging your obliques and glutes on the supporting side.
Over-extending Limbs: Raising your arm or leg too high can cause an arch in your lower back; only extend to shoulder and hip height while maintaining a neutral spine.

In the Ellim app, Bird Dog Plank unlocks

Free — no subscription needed

Log sets, reps, and weight
Track every set as you train
See your strength curve
Performance graphs across all sessions
Add to a routine
Save into a custom workout in one tap
Rest timer with Live Activity
Dynamic Island countdown between sets
HealthKit sync
Workouts flow to Apple Health
3,500+ exercise library
Search, filter, and pick variations offline

Ready to train bird dog plank?

Get Ellim — Free

Questions

Is Bird Dog Plank good for beginners?

Bird Dog Plank is rated intermediate. Beginners can still attempt it with lighter weight and careful form, but it's best to master easier variations first.

What equipment do I need for Bird Dog Plank?

You need Body weight to perform Bird Dog Plank. If you don't have this equipment, look for variations that target the same muscles with what you have available.

What are the best tips for Bird Dog Plank?

Focus on slow, controlled movements rather than speed to maximize core engagement and stability throughout the exercise. Imagine balancing a glass of water on your lower back to help maintain a neutral spine and prevent hip rotation or sagging. Actively press through your supporting hand and foot to create a stable base and engage the shoulder and hip stabilizers more effectively. Exhale as you extend your arm and leg, and inhale as you return to the plank position, using your breath to brace your core.

What are common mistakes when doing Bird Dog Plank?

Sagging Hips: Allowing your hips to drop towards the floor indicates a lack of core engagement; actively draw your navel to your spine and squeeze your glutes to maintain a straight line. Rotating Hips: If your hips twist when extending a limb, focus on keeping your hips square to the floor by engaging your obliques and glutes on the supporting side. Over-extending Limbs: Raising your arm or leg too high can cause an arch in your lower back; only extend to shoulder and hip height while maintaining a neutral spine.