Do you believe it’s possible to re-imagine yourself and achieve incredible heights? Do you believe in the power of goal-setting and visualization? I sincerely hope you do. In case you have any doubts, however, meet Dana Glowacka, who smashed a world record and fulfilled a nearly-inconceivable goal.
Plank Pose
There is one pose that always, without fail, causes my yoga students to grunt and groan. No matter how fit they are, any time I teach plank pose (also called kumbhakasana), a chorus of whining floats through the usually-peaceful air. This pose is challenging for most people, even for health gurus. Yet, it’s a staple in many forms of yoga as well as in strenuous workouts, beloved for its numerous benefits, including core, joint, and muscle strengthening. Yet, one mother decided that she could and would hold this challenging pose longer than any other woman. And she did it.
Positivity Matters
A native of Montreal, Canada, Glowacka is a mom and yoga practitioner. While many people are seduced by their inner critics, Glowacka works hard to combat hers. Instead of telling herself that she’s too old, too out of shape, too-whatever, she tells herself that can and will accomplish whatever she puts her mind to.
Her positivity was put to the test, however, when her son received a Guinness World Records book. She noticed that a fitness instructor, George Hood, had set the world record for planking, holding the pose for a whopping one hour and 20 minutes.
At that moment, she looked at her son, and his simple words of encouragement, “Mom, you can do this,” ignited a remarkable journey. Glowacka didn’t care that the world record winner was a super-buff man; she was determined to surpass his time. (1)
“I can do it. I believe in myself.”
When she began her odyssey, she was only holding her plank for four minutes. While that’s a long time – a very long time – for even highly-competitive fitness enthusiasts, she had a long way to go to beat Hood’s 80-minute plank. But she told herself, “I can do it. I believe in myself.” Every day, she practiced. And every day, she told herself she could do it.
Eventually, in May 2016, Glowacka entered and won the Second International World Cup Plank Challenge with a hold time of more than two hours. (1)
Victory!
Glowacka didn’t stop there, however. For three more years, she continued telling herself she could do better. With a clear vision and fierce determination, Glowacka eventually held her plank for more than four hours and won the Guinness World Record for Longest Time in an Abdominal Plank Position (female). She had wanted to beat one man’s time, and she absolutely smashed it. (1, 2)
Since her planking adventure began in 2014, a young man from China, Mao Weidong, held plank pose for more than eight hours. Maybe Dana will begin a new trek to try to beat his time, too? (3)
You Are Dana
Next time you think that a goal is impossible, think again. Instead of listening to your inner critic, choose to be optimistic. Tell yourself that you can do it. See your accomplishments in your mind. Work your tail off. Take action every day. If Dana Glowacka can accomplish her seemingly impossible goal, so can you.
