Stop doing 100s of sit-ups: I'm a personal trainer, and I use 'bear plank openers' to build strong abs and hips instead
Personal trainer Sam Hopes advocates for the use of 'bear plank openers' as an effective alternative to traditional sit-ups for building core strength. This exercise not only targets the abs but also engages the hips and glutes, promoting overall stability and endurance. Hopes emphasizes the importance of proper form and gradual progression to maximize benefits and improve mobility.
- ▪Bear plank openers engage the core, hips, and glutes while building strength and stability.
- ▪The exercise involves starting from a tabletop position and lifting one leg out to the side while maintaining balance.
- ▪Hopes recommends performing 3-4 sets of 6-8 reps per side to effectively target the muscles.
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Wellness Fitness Workouts Stop doing 100s of sit-ups: I'm a personal trainer, and I use 'bear plank openers' to build strong abs and hips instead Features By Sam Hopes published 22 May 2026 Bear plank openers hit your core and hips When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Copy link Facebook X Reddit Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The bear plank builds deep core strength and stability and engages most of your body, but you can turn this move into a hip-opening exercise, too, and burn up your quads at the same time.
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