The fitness industry is filled with all types of exercise gadgets. Most of the time I see little use for many of them. They over-promise and under-deliver and are generally a waste of money and time.
When I first heard about the TRX® Suspension straps I was a little hesitant to buy into them. When I started to play around with some of the exercises and listened to some of the professionals that developed the straps and training protocols, I quickly realized that, for under $200, you can't buy a better piece of exercise equipment!
View what the exercises look like by clicking here.
There are hundreds of exercises that can be done with the straps, but here are the five I feel should be in everyone's training program. The neat thing is anyone can do them because you can progress and regress so easily, and use between 5-100% of your body weight.
Exercise #1 TRX Row
The TRX Row is hands down my favorite. This was the first exercise that I implemented in my clients' programs and has been a staple ever since. The TRX Row beats any other piece of rowing equipment out there. The TRX Row is very shoulder friendly, can be used by anyone by either walking backwards to decrease your intensity, or you can elevate your feet on a box to make it harder.
Exercise #2 TRX Push-ups
The TRX Push-up is an instant core exercise. If you are not strong enough to do a push-up just hold the hand plank and point your toes towards your shins and you will feel your abs fire like crazy! You can also perform what is called a scapular push-up. This is done by simply pinching your shoulder blades together without bending the elbows, and then pulling them apart.
View what the exercises look like by clicking here.
Exercise #3 TRX Lunge
This one is slightly advanced, but with patience and hard work, it will really help your single leg strength and your hip stabilization.
Exercise #4 TRX Hamstring Curls
This has become my favorite exercise to strengthen the hamstrings and posterior core. The pendulum effect of the TRX allows almost unlimited scale of progression. This one, you will definitely feel the burn!
Exercise #5 TRX Standing or Kneeling Rollout
Everyone wants a nice set of strong abdominals, and rollouts are the best way to get them. You will feel your core from the top to the bottom. This exercise is truly a total body core exercise in the standing position, and you can make it a little easier by performing it on your knees.
You can add these into your current program, or use this as a full body circuit. Any way you put it, the TRX Suspension straps are a must in anyone's training regimen.
Justin Grinnell B.S., CSCS is is the co-owner of State of Fitness in East Lansing. He's also a regular contributor to Healthy & Fit Magazine and has several columnns and vidoes on the Healthy & Fit Magazine Web site at healthyandfitmagazine.com. You can reach him at 517.708.8828 or mystateoffitness.com.
