The XSport Life

Spotlight on Suspension Training with TRX^®

You might be familiar with the main amenities at your gym—strength equipment, group exercise, accessories like kettlebells and stability balls…but have you tried TRX yet?

TRX Suspension Training consists of hanging straps you use for bodyweight exercises. It develops strength, balance and core stability. Start as a beginner, and get super strong!

What It Is

The TRX Suspension Trainer is a workout system that leverages gravity and your bodyweight to allow you to perform hundreds of exercises. The “suspension” aspect of TRX is owed to the adjustable straps secured overhead, and the padded handles for your hands or feet.

Exercises can be done standing or using a mat on the floor. Adjusting your body position will add or decrease resistance according to the angle of your body, center of gravity and distance from the floor.

How It Works

No matter what exercise you’re performing with the TRX, there is an added element of instability in the straps—you’ll need to engage your core and find your balance. This provides an extra challenge for your abs and the muscles that support your spine.

Exercises can be done standing or using a mat on the floor. Adjusting your body position will add or decrease resistance according to the angle of your body, center of gravity and distance from the floor.

The straps allow for a focus on flexibility, offering a tool to ease into stretching for range of motion. They also can provide a very advanced workout—boot camp moves like planks and mountain climbers take on a whole new level of challenge when performed in the TRX straps.

What TRX Is Good For

• Get an efficient, effective total body workout
• Add a new twist on your strength training
• Build a rock-solid core and improve balance
• Add straps to deepen yoga poses and other stretches
• Use as an interval training accessory
• Train as a beginner or an athlete with simple adjustments

Try These Exercises

• Standing push-ups: lean your body forward, lower chest through the straps
• Suspended push-ups: walk hands out to push up plank with feet in straps to perform
• Mountain climbers: in push up plank with feet in straps, pull in alternating knees
• Side plank: stack ankles in straps, extend body and face side on forearm or straight arm

TRX Suspension Training is also available as part of the XSport Fitness X-IT program. X-IT is a 1-hour Interval Training Class that constantly monitors your heart rate to ensure that you reach your maximum level, allowing your body to continue to burn calories and fat for up to 36 hours after class. Aside from TRX, intervals include free weights, rowing and much more. Click here to sign up for a free trial class: http://www.xsportfitness.com/xit/