Gravity Fx Fitness

Last night I did some stability work on the Power Plate to work on some “weak links.”  I like using the vibration platform as part of my warmup to activate (turn on) muscles that are prone to weakness and injury.  I also like the fact that I can get in a quick workout when short on time.

Today I was watching some resistance band videos and saw something new that I wanted to try out.  So I attached the bands to a fixed object and used a dowel rod to do some core stability work.

I’m getting ready to reopen my training studio and flex bands are one of the key components of the workouts.  They are extremely versatile, portable, and they help increase your athleticism, even if you are slightly past your competitive days, like myself.

The exercises really worked my midsection while also working on my shoulder stability, making them very efficient.  I’ve had past shoulder injuries and anything that helps keep my shoulders healthy is a plus.

So I did these seemingly simple exercises, working my core from every possible angle, including front and back.  I also used the bands for some lower body activation, including some lunges with the band around my waist.

Then I finished with a little sandbag work for my lower body – good mornings and front squats.  Between these two training tools, I got a fast, efficient workout which worked my core during every exercise.

Workouts don’t have to take hours to do in order to get results.

Get moving!

Brian

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Flex band resistance bands are great for doing home workouts.  They are extremely versatile and can be used for fat loss, flexibility training or golf fitness.

I first experienced these bands a few years back at a workshop given by physical therapist Dave Schmitz.  I found out he was giving a free workshop in the Milwaukee area and traveled 3 hours under threat of snow and ice to see firsthand what they are all about.

I wasn’t disappointed, as Schmitz turned out to be an extremely dynamic presenter and I was amazed at the use of this tool, as he took several highschool athletes through a workout, which included flexibility work and numerous agility drills designed to increase reaction time.

The flex bands are like thick rubber bands which are linked together and can be done with a partner or on your own, by attaching them to a stationary object.

He had the athletes working in pairs with one partner acting as the “anchor” while the other went through the various drills.  Then they would switch, so that one was working while the other rested, but since the resting person was being the anchor, they were still getting some training in.

In the last few years, several highschool football teams using these methods have won championships or finished near the top.  Schmitz’ motto is “Training beyond the contraction”, meaning that you don’t want to just train the muscle to generate a lot of force, you want a muscle that will react quickly, which is key to sports performance.

For people like me who are past their 30’s but still want to perform at a high level, whether its on the golf course, softball field or basketball court, these resistance bands are the perfect training tool.  Its pretty easy to keep your strength levels up but your reaction time and explosiveness seems to slip if you don’t train them adequately.

I haven’t seen a better tool for achieving this, especially one that can be used at home.  You can get different bands that will meet all your exercise needs for far less than a Bowflex would cost and have more versatility in your home workout program.

By the way, Schmitz can do the front splits at 45 and has the same kind of agility that an elite athlete in their 20’s would have.  I love the bands because they turn every exercise into a core training exercise, as they link the upper and lower body together in all the movements.

So this exercise equipment can be used by teenagers, their parents and even their grandparents, especially since reaction time and strength are crucial to preventing falls and keeping your mobility as you age.

If you would like more info, go to Resistance Band Training.

Get moving!

Brian

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