Intro to TRX

Have you been by our office, or to any reputable gym, and seen those yellow and black straps hanging from the ceiling? Have you wondered what their purpose is?  They are known as TRX (Total Body Resistance Exercise) and they are used for suspension and bodyweight exercise.

The idea of the TRX came from Randy Hetrick who was a Navy SEAL among many other achievements.  He created the TRX as a way to get a full body workout when a gym was not readily available.  Despite the TRX being commonly seen hanging from a clasp in the ceiling it can be used almost anywhere like a park, basement, or deep in the woods.

The ability to work every muscle using only the suspension trainer makes it an appealing piece of equipment.  There are literally hundreds of exercises that can be performed using a TRX from basic squats and rows to pushups, planks, and bicep curls.  The instability of the suspension trainer is beneficial to strengthening stabilizer muscles and reinforcing proper form and controlled movement.

Although it might seem odd at first the learning curve in getting comfortable with the TRX is surprisingly short.  Resistance level comes down to foot position.  The further your feet are from where the TRX is anchored the easier a move will be.  As a standard row gets easier you can simply move your feet closer to the anchor point to make it harder.

The straps themselves are durable with the ability to hold up to 350 pounds.  An area of 8×6-feet is preferable but they can still be useful in smaller spaces.  A home version is available that can be used with any strong door.  However, for those with no experience using a TRX it might be wise to have a guided session or take a class.

We here at Mind Body Spine and Cape Kettlebell have experience in using and instructing with the TRX.  If you want to see what all of the hype is about give us a call, email, or stop by the office!

References:

• TRX Training.com

by Christopher Setterlund