I’ve blogged here about my love for my university’s half hour lunch time fitness classes.
My favourite is the TRX class. It’s good for people of all fitness levels because your body position determines how much of your weight you’re working with. I like that.
“TRX Training is extremely joint friendly. People of all ages and fitness levels can be challenged appropriately using the TRX because it allows the user to do high intensity workouts without having to put full body weight on knees and hips. The Suspension Trainer allows the user to off-set their own body weight and move through the correct range of motion without pain.” From Home Fitness for Her.
My knees approve. It’s also a very good core exercise. We do some combination of the exercises here.
Sarah owns her own TRX so in theory we could hang it up outside and do it at home. Or take it camping. In practice these days I’m better off if someone else tells me what to do.
What is it anyway? Here’s Wikipedia: ” The TRX System, also known as Total Resistance exercises, refers to a specialized form of suspension training that utilizes equipment developed by former U.S. Navy SEAL Randy Hetrick.[TRX is a form of suspension training that uses body weight exercises to develop strength, balance, flexibility and core stability simultaneously. It requires the use of the TRX Suspension Trainer, a performance training tool that leverages gravity and the user’s body weight to complete the exercises. TRX’s designers claim that it draws on research from the military, pro sports, and academic institutions along with experience gathered from the TRX team, who work “with thousands of athletes, coaches, trainers, first responders, subject matter experts, professors, and service members in all branches.”[
If the 15 above weren’t enough, here’s 66 TRX moves:
How about you? Do you use the TRX equipment at the gym or at home? Love it? Hate it? What are your fave TRX moves?
I too really like TRX for all the reasons Sam notes – however, a word of caution – you need to do it properly or you can hurt yourself. I know from experience – a few years ago I was in a gym that did a lot of TRX work but the classes were too full and the instructors weren’t really that good at monitoring proper form. I badly injured my back which put me out of commission for almost a year and effectively ended my distance running. I strongly suggest working with a trainer until you’re comfortable with the techniques.
Yes, our lunch hour classes are usually 6-10 people. There’s also an “intro to TRX” that’s 15 minutes before the class begins. Agree that some instruction is needed.
I want to like TRX. I really do. And I’ve tried it multiple times with coaching; however, I can’t get over my mental fear of trusting that those webbed straps will hold. I can sort of manage it when I’m facing the ground but am hopeless when I have to lean backwards. It’s a giant trust exercise that I fail at.