Fun and challenging fitness doesn’t have to be done at the gym
As the owner of X-Trainers, which offers personalized fitness training, I am always looking for ways to mix it up for my clients and offer them the latest and greatest advice when it comes to fitness. Many of my clients travel and want to work out when they are on the road, or they want to do additional exercises at home. This brings us to a versatile and inexpensive training program called suspended bodyweight training.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is one of many to embrace this new trend and with good reason. Brees is a spokesperson for TRX, which sells the industrial-strength suspension training soft nylon straps. This workout equipment can be used in any space that is at least six feet wide and eight feet long, and you can hang the straps from doors, fences, tree limbs, etc. There are more than 300 exercises that help you develop a total workout, and the straps can support up to 350 pounds of weight.
The advantage of the straps is that you use your own body weight to create resistance and improve balance and flexibility. The workouts consist of either hanging from the legs or leaning back while gripping the straps and then performing a variety of moves.
The best part of suspension training is that you have to engage your core in order to balance yourself. On the other hand, critics warn that those with a history of joint or back injuries or inadequate core strength are more susceptible to injury.
People really enjoy working out on the suspension cables because it’s both fun and challenging, offering real, measurable results. It appeals equally to men and women of all fitness levels because users can precisely control how intense they want each exercise to be. And because the TRX system leverages the user’s body weight and the body’s natural movements, there are literally hundreds of exercises available, making TRX training incredibly versatile.
What most people love about suspension training is it advocates strengthening muscles synergistically, rather than in isolation, thus offering a new way to work out. When many have become bored with the ubiquitous balance equipment traditionally used in gyms or have hit plateaus, the suspension cables offer a great alternative.
Weighing less than 2 pounds, the straps deliver greater performance and functionality than large exercise machines costing thousands of dollars. The straps set up in seconds so you can stay fit at home, the gym or on the road—wherever you want!
Randy Hetrick, a former Navy SEAL, invented the TRX training system and now the equipment is in more than 1,000 gyms nationwide. Hetrick created the straps for soldiers in the field who wanted to exercise but did not have access to a traditional gym. Now, after being introduced to consumers nationwide, more than 10,000 sets of straps have been purchased.
This training system is used and trusted by trainers, athletes, physical therapists and all branches of the military. Its training popularity among professional athletes and team-training rooms is exploding across the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, UFC and NCAA.
Of course it is important that this program is supported by cardiovascular training and a proper diet. We always recommend you consult your physician to make sure this and all exercise programs are right for you.
If you are interested in learning more about this new fitness trend or want to get serious about your own personal fitness, visit x-trainers.com to get in touch with me and find out more tips to maximize your workouts.
Leilani Heno is the owner of X-Trainers and the author of Smothering the Soul: Weight Loss Made Simple.