Suspension training is one of the hot, new exercise trends.  In fact, the TRX trainer was voted Best Total-Body Tool in Men’s Health article on best new fitness gear.

I tried it out at a fitness trade show in Chicago and its a good tool.  I recently purchased the Bandit’s Loops suspension trainer from Art of Strength, and I love it.

There are plenty of different exercises that can be done with these, all of which are great for core stability.  Instead of doing endless crunches, I prefer to train my abs and low back to work with my upper or lower body.

Besides being a more time efficient way to train, this really hits your abs with lots of intensity.  It also increases your total body coordination, making all your movements more efficient and making you more athletic.

I’ve had plenty of shoulder problems, in part because of poor posture.  Suspension trainers can help with your posture and build core stability, so you minimize the risk of back pain.  The rowing exercises are great for your upper and mid back.

Besides being important for your posture, strength in this area is extremely important to help prevent rotator cuff injuries.  I’m speaking from experience here, as I’ve done some damage to both of my shoulders in the past.

You can work on shoulder stability from the pushup position as well.  With the Bandit’s Loops you can add some spice to your pushups by working from different positions – either with your hands holding the loops or your feet in them, doing a “suspended” pushup.

These movements are similar to gymnastics training and will build decent strength just by doing bodyweight training.  Gymnasts have a very impressive amount of upper body strength compared to what they weigh.

The large loops make it easy to slip your feet into and you can adjust the straps quickly for the amount of resistance you want.  This makes it possible for those with minimal strength to exercise, as well as those who are already in decent shape.

A pretty versatile tool if you ask me.  I like the creative movements that are possible, besides the fact that I don’t have to spend extra time to work my abs.

If you train at home or outdoors, the loops are a great tool to use for bodyweight exercises.  Add some dumbbells, sandbags, or kettlebells for a fast, efficient workout.

Get moving!

Brian Morgan

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