Here is a great video from coach Josh Henkin that shows some exercises you may not have seen before – exercises that really challenge your core.
He has described this video as fighter fitness but it will work equally well for many non-athletes. I like exercise tools that can provide a great workout for an elite athlete but also work well for “average” people who want to lose weight and be in great shape.
Sandbags and the TRX definitely accomplish this goal, providing results for all ages.
I tried the TRX rotation exercise for the abs this morning and it works great.
The Power Plate is a great tool for golf fitness and is complimented by training with the TRX and sandbags. Check out this article on TRX Training for Golf.
Baseball players have started Spring training and one coach has integrated a unique exercise tool into his team’s regimen.
Detroit Tigers head Strength and Conditioning Coach Javair Gillett is using the TRX suspension trainer to prepare his athletes for the grueling 162 game season. Besides the versatility of the exercises you can do, he likes it for training on the road, when they are away from their training facility at Tigers’ Stadium. It fits into a small pouch and is very portable.
It allows you to train different qualities which are vital to sports performance, like balance, strength, flexibility and core stability. He believes it has a strong carryover to athletic movements.
Strengthening the mid and upper back is important for trying to prevent shoulder injuries. It is an area that needs to be strong for posture reasons, also.
Not just for athletes, Gillett thinks it is a great training tool for everyone. “If you improve your athleticism you’ll improve the quality of your life. The TRX lets you do that, anywhere.”
The TRX suspension trainer isn’t just for increased fitness and core conditioning, its also a great tool for flexibility.
It can be used for both dynamic and static stretching. Many people think of stretching as being static, where you hold a certain position for 20-30 seconds or longer. This type of flexibility is often best for after your exercise session, as part of your cooldown.
The exception to this is with someone who might have some past injuries and needs to release excess tension in the muscles.
This particular position has helped me regain flexibility after an old injury. Ideally, you do some type of massage first to warm up the muscles. Various dynamic stretches can also be done for the trunk, upper and lower body.
You need a combination of strength and flexibility for optimal performance. The TRX is a great tool for the job.
Yesterday’s Super Bowl victory was a comeback for both the franchise and the city of New Orleans. Not too many years ago Drew Brees was facing his own comeback after a shoulder injury threatened his career.
One of the training tools that made a big impact on his shoulder health and his performance on the field is the TRX suspension trainer.
This piece of equipment can help strengthen your shoulders, upper and mid back, and your core all at the same time. Even when “isolating” different muscles your low back and abs are working to some degree to provide stability. This efficiency is one reason that athletes love this tool and its also why it is a great way for the average person to exercise, as well.
If you are looking for home exercise equipment that is inexpensive, portable, versatile and most important, effective, its hard to go wrong with the TRX. It can be used by most anyone to increase their fitness levels without taking a lot of time.
Here are some simple exercises to use as part of your warm up or to help improve your posture. The first two can be done with only bodyweight and can be done standing or lying face down.
You can use this to help stretch the front of the shoulders and “activate” or turn on the rotator cuff and posterior shoulder, as well as the upper back. The TRX is a great training tool and also great for reinforcing posture and strengthening the upper and mid back.
A great compliment to these exercises is using Indian clubs for increased flexibility and coordination involving the upper body.
The TRX suspension trainer is a great tool for golf fitness. One description of this piece is “all core all the time,” which makes it ideal for golf training.
It allows you to develop strength and flexibility while focusing on the abs, back, and hips. You can work on golf specific flexibility and strengthen the upper and mid back – areas which are important for posture and shoulder health.
In the video you will see how it can help your game. Its portability is another nice feature, enabling you to take it outside in good weather.
In the video with the Titleist Performance Institute, you will also notice the Power Plate vibration platform. This is another valuable tool for golf fitness. I think sandbags would also complete the overall effect, helping develop total body power.
If you are looking for a new challenge for your abs training, doing “ab rollouts” on a suspension trainer may be just what the doctor ordered.
Many people have been doing planks and different variations for their basic ab work and need something more advanced. The abs wheel is a good choice, as it requires you to stabilize with your upper body, at the same time.
The old models have been largely replaced with one’s that have a bigger wheel. Most people have to start on their knees to complete these exercises.
If you have a suspension trainer such as a TRX or bandit’s loops, you can use it to do ab rollouts, similar to the wheel. Start with the straps in a higher position and then you can gradually lower them for more resistance.
In the low position, they will give you a great core training effect, besides the upper body stability work. There is a reason gymnasts have great upper body development, even though they usually only train with their own bodyweight.
Don’t let your stomach sag as you go through the motion. Of course, that should go without saying, as there is plenty of tension placed on your stomach.
You can also do pushups in the low position to work all the muscles above your waist at the same time. If that’s not enough tension, pick one leg off the ground as you do your pushups – or wear a weight vest.
Obviously, this isn’t a beginner exercise, but this is one of the many ways you can train your midsection while using a suspension trainer.
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.
