This three-minute plank from Anne Hathaway’s trainer strengthens your core

Celebrity trainer Monique Eastwood, who works with Anne Hathaway, Greta Gerwig, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt, has a plank sequence that promises a full-body workout in just three minutes.

Eastwood’s training philosophy blends Pilates, ballet, yoga, dance, and strength work into flowing sequences that emphasize alignment and core stability. 

“These muscles stabilize you, so you have amazing power for whatever you do, whether that’s playing tennis, hitting a golf ball, or going skiing,” she explains.

How to do the plank sequence

Start in a high plank position. Place your right foot on top of your left heel, bend your knees to move your hips toward your heels, then push back to the high plank. 

Next, extend your right leg to the side and tap the ground with your toes before returning to the start. 

That’s one repetition. Complete 10 reps, then switch sides. Beginners can reduce repetitions and gradually build up.

Eastwood emphasizes proper form over effort. “Everyone puts too much emphasis on their shoulders… but their legs and glutes are sleeping, which makes everything harder,” she said. 

Balancing the work between legs, glutes, and abs makes the plank more effective and accessible.

The Benefits

This sequence works more than just your core. By stacking one leg on the other, your lower leg takes on extra load, strengthening quadriceps. 

The movement also engages inner thighs, obliques, and the pelvis, while your shoulders play a stabilizing role. 

In just three minutes, you get an all-over workout that challenges both strength and balance.