Learning to Love Planks

Planks were becoming my nemesis and virtually the only exercise I would fail to complete withintheestavlished rep/time range. However after reading Patricks comment on breathing and planks it all changed. What a difference breathing makes,ansisso ethnic that we do not pay enough attention to. Is an integral part of my aikido and zen practice, yet I still fail to extend it to so many areas in my life! And then with the planks, going from fighting the posture and the tension in the abs, to blending with the posture, becoming one with it breathing into it, slowly and steadily transformed the plank agony into a really enjoyable focused exercise listening to the body and scanning mindfully the body for tension, trying to maintain a state of tensed relaxation or relaxed tension whichever way you may want to look at it....Now planks are my newest friend.