Using your own body weight for training is the most popular way to stay in shape in 2015, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends.
The annual survey, which questioned over 3,800 fitness professionals from across the world, saw body weight training topping the chart for the first time, with HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), last year’s leader, taking second spot.
Part of the huge growth in body weight training has been driven by TRX, with its iconic black and yellow Suspension Trainer™. Not only are these straps now used globally by exercisers in health clubs and gyms, the military, elite athletes and celebrities, but thousands are sold every year for use in homes, garages and offices. A far cry from the traditional bodyweight exercises of the press up and pull up, over 300 body weight exercises can be done with the TRX, enabling exercisers to use their bodyweight to effectively build strength, balance and flexibility.
Strength & Power
Everyone, no matter what age, should do some form of strength training. Building muscle strength improves your balance and stability, increases metabolism and strengthens bones, tendons and ligaments while reducing the risk of conditions such as osteoporosis. Overall, strength training improves your ability to do everyday activities but these day-to-day movements are unpredictable, so why would you develop your training using stable, predictable and repetitive exercises? No matter what your fitness goal or ability is, training should challenge your whole body in every plane of motion. Using versatile equipment, such as the TRX Suspension Trainer, is perfect for this as it places your body in an instability that enables your core strength with every movement. This makes the bodywork as it’s meant to, as a whole-body connected unit rather than an isolated muscle group, to optimally build strength and increase power to meet any demand or challenge your body would face.
Mobility & Flexibility
Many recognise TRX training for its strength, core and high intensity workouts but the suspension trainer is also a valuable tool for breaking down tension while building upper and lower body mobility and flexibility. Regardless of whether you’re a regular fitness fanatic or just starting out, at some point you will naturally experience some aches due to inflexibility. Stretching on the TRX mobilises the whole body and uses your full range of motion to help improve flexibility, posture and mobility, working to diminish aches and pains commonly experienced as a consequence of physical activity and daily movement. Improving flexibility using the TRX has many benefits from improving circulation, range of motion and posture to decreasing muscle tension and joint pain. It is also becoming popular in Yoga or Pilates style workouts that stretch and relax the body while focusing the mind.
Injury Prevention
Whether used for rehabilitation or prevention of injuries, the versatility of TRX training gives you the ability to develop joint stability, mobility and strength in all planes of motion. Many physical therapists, elite teams, fitness professionals and rehabilitation programs feature the TRX to help patients recover from various injuries due to the ease of adjusting resistance and difficulty. If you’re new to suspension training the best way to begin is to ease into it, working out for 20-30 minutes, choosing 5-6 exercises that are suitable to your fitness level and goals. Complete a single set of each exercise at 10-12 repetitions. Every TRX product comes with best-in-class education to get your started safely. Once you feel comfortable with the movements you can increase the number of exercises, the repetitions or decrease the rest periods your take between exercise sets.
TRX Training gives you a sustainable, fun, effective approach to reaching your fitness best and the portable, lightweight kit lets you take your workout with you wherever you train – at home, in the gym, outside or on your travels. Suited to every ability, you can easily progress or decrease the difficultly of each exercise by changing your body position or moving away from where the TRX is anchored to find the challenge that’s right for you.
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