How to Use TRX Bands to Strength Train While Being Easy on Your Joints
If you've ever taken a group HIIT class or worked out in the weight room of a gym, then you're probably using a TRX suspension trainer, which are essentially two adjustable bands with foam-padded handles that you can lock into place to do a variety of bodyweight exercises. People who like to do their workouts at home can order a TRX suspension trainer and install it in their home gym, garage, or an outdoor area with plenty of space. Every TRX trainer comes with a suspension anchor, door anchor and a free one-year subscription to the TRX app, which include workouts and tips on how to use the tool effectively.
The benefits of working out with TRX bands
What's great about using TRX bands is that they can intensify bodyweight workouts without putting as much pressure on your joints as weights. Plus, they help you think about engaging different muscle groups in the body by manipulating your form and adjusting the amount of resistance in the straps.
"TRX straps are a great way to strength train and be gentle on the joints. You're using bodyweight in a way that you can easily manipulate range of motion, and therefore, the amount of weight applied to the exercise," explains Melody Scharff, a NASM-certified personal trainer and instructor at the Fhitting Room, a high-intensity training studio in New York City.
Because the straps are long and durable, you can shorten or lengthen them to make certain moves more challenging. The padded handles aren't just for holding either. Looping your feet around them to do planks and mountain climbers will challenge your core stability and force you to engage your glutes and tuck your hips. From jump squats to back rows, there's a plethora of exercises you can do with a TRX trainer. Don't know where to start? Check out this beginner TRX workout designed by Scharff.
Reps: 8 to 12 reps for two to three rounds
Equipment: TRX suspension trainer
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Get more strength training workouts by downloading our All/Out Studio app.
Intensify your workouts with these versatile bands.