Have you ever heard of suspension training? It’s an innovative exercise method using bodyweight movements and adjustable straps that suspend you above the ground. This type of training has gained popularity in recent years because it offers a full-body workout that increases strength, flexibility, and balance.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced fitness enthusiast, suspension training is an excellent way to challenge your muscles and improve your overall fitness. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what suspension training is, how it works, and its benefits.
Suspension Training or TRX: A Brief History
Suspension training, also known as TRX training, was created by a former Navy SEAL, Randy Hetrick, to enable himself to train wherever he was, using only his body weight and minimal equipment. Suspension training involves adjusting straps to create resistance and leverage using only one’s body weight.
The straps are adjustable, allowing for various movements to work in different muscle groups. The exercises involve moving your body away or towards the straps or even changing the angle of your body to create different degrees of difficulty. TRX is versatile and can be adapted to varying levels of fitness and abilities.
Benefits of Suspension Training:
Suspension training offers many benefits, including building strength, improving balance, and increasing flexibility. Because of its versatility, suspension training can help tone every part of your body, from your arms, shoulders, and chest to your lower body muscles. Suspension training is also an excellent cardio workout that can help you burn more calories, improve your endurance, and increase your metabolism.
For Athletes:
Suspension training can also benefit athletes because it offers functional training, whereby movements mimic movements encountered in daily life or sports. By working on movements that we might do naturally, such as running, jumping, pushing, and pulling, you are training your body for better balance, coordination, and agility. Additionally, the muscle strength you’ll develop using TRX will help you increase your athleticism and reduce the risk of injuries.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About TRX
For starters, suspension training does not necessarily include actual suspension. Instead, it’s a form of bodyweight exercise that uses an instability platform consisting of elastic straps and a pulley system to leverage gravity into increased resistance.
Top 4 Reasons to Try Suspension Training
The suspension training craze is sweeping the country, with more and more people getting in on the elastic strap action. Still on the fence about whether to give it a go? Consider these four benefits offered by TRX:
1. It's Fast and Effective
While bodyweight exercises are terrific, sometimes a more significant challenge is in order. Suspension training amplifies your exercise routine to provide a unique total-body workout.
In fact, recent research published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine reveals suspension training to be as successful as old-fashioned weights across measures including strength, power, speed, and jumping ability. Said study author José Luis Maté-Muñoz, PhD, “Instability training provides an optimal stimulus for developing strength levels.”
2. It Works Your Core
Experts agree that a strong core is everything. Unfortunately, many forms of exercise overlook the importance of core strength — a mistake that not only compromises performance but also increases the risk of injury. Conversely, TRX automatically engages the core whenever you clip in and work out.
Says one New York Times write-up on the trend, “The beauty of TRX is that you can’t help engaging your core to steady yourself.” Furthermore, with increasing evidence pointing to the benefits of functional training, exercise scientists herald the synergistic approach of TRX.
3. It's Adaptability for People of all Fitness Levels
Just because suspension training was invented by Navy SEALS doesn’t mean it’s inaccessible to the rest of the population. Under the supervision of qualified personal trainers, this approach offers advantages to people of all fitness levels — from novices to elite athletes.
4. It's Portable and Inexpensive
Point one addressed the comparability of suspension training to weight systems regarding the outcome. Two areas where they could be more comparable? Portability and cost. Weights and large exercise machines are not only stationery due to their heft and unwieldiness but can also cost thousands more than a simple suspension system.
One last thing to keep in mind about suspension training? While it has tremendous potential from a fitness perspective, it can also result in injury without the proper techniques. This is why personal trainers are an essential part of the process. With the appropriate knowledge, training, and experience, they are uniquely positioned to help their clients minimize the risk of injury while maximizing the effects of TRX.
What is Physical Fitness Training?
Physical fitness training is a structured exercise regimen designed to enhance physical health and well-being. It involves the consistent implementation of exercises and activities that are aimed at improving muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness. Moreover, physical fitness training can also reduce the likelihood of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
By engaging in physical fitness training, individuals can improve their overall quality of life and enhance their ability to perform daily tasks with ease. Whether it is through aerobic exercise, strength training, or flexibility exercises, physical fitness training is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, suspension training is an innovative and versatile way to improve your fitness. By using only your body weight and suspension straps, you can develop overall functional strength, flexibility, and balance and reduce the risk of injury. With its versatility and portability, TRX is suitable for people of all fitness levels and abilities, making it an excellent addition to your fitness routine. So why try it and see how suspension training can benefit your health and fitness goals?
Interested in learning more about suspension training and other fitness methods? Request information from SOCHi today to know whether a personal training career suits you.
