Four Reasons To Use The TRX

If you're active in the fitness community, you've at least HEARD about the Total Resistance eXercise (TRX) Suspension Training System. If you haven't, then you must read along because I believe this valuable piece of equipment is becoming an essential asset to all workout programs. The TRX was created by a fitness minded Navy SEAL who was looking to get some challenging resistance work in anywhere he could; hence the corporation's name Fitness Anywhere. Using a system of what appears to be some straps and heavy duty tie downs, this piece of equipment is rapidly proving to be the next great step in functional fitness. Having heard about this great tool through Coach Robert dos Remedios at College of the Canyons, I did some research, purchased a TRX and quickly began experimenting with all kinds of functional goodies. Now I am about half a year into utilizing the TRX and I implement it on a daily basis in my own workouts, my 2B FIT Camp and in my client's individual programs. Since I am crazy about the TRX and truly believe in it's use, I am going to give you four reasons you should be using the TRX.

1. Workout anywhere! This concept is what spawned the creation of the TRX, but it is true that you can literally workout anywhere you can tie off the TRX anchor. Anything sturdy like poles, trees, overhead beams, fences, soccer goals and field goal posts all can serve as an anchor. TRX even comes in a pack that allows you to anchor to the door jam in your own home! No more excuses for not exercising, you can get it in EVERYWHERE!

2. TRX is easily adaptable for all fitness levels. One of the greatest uses I have found for the TRX is with clients who have range of motion or strength deficiencies, especially in the lower body. Because your body weight is the resistance when using the TRX in most cases, you can easily adjust your angle and positioning relative to the TRX anchor to redistribute load or use the straps as a balance point to keep you stable. With exercises that are performed while standing (leg routines, rowing variations, push up variations, etc) you can simply adjust your body positioning to either increase or decrease the resistance, thus allowing just about anyone of any fitness level to get some work in some way or another.

3. You are working your core ALL THE TIME. A few weeks back I blogged about the core and stabilizer muscles that play an intricate role in the postural and structural health of our body. With the TRX you are always utilizing your core as you are required to balance and maintain your posture in a very unstable setting. Not only do the stabilizers in your trunk endure a tremendous amount of work, but the assisting stabilizer muscles in all major movements and throughout the shoulders, hips, knees and ankles are activated. This kind of work helps you burn more calories, reduces chance of injury and overall makes you stronger.
 
4. Some of the best posterior chain and shoulder work I have ever performed. That statement may sound crazy, but it is true. Athletes and common folk alike must work to maintain proper shoulder and posterior chain health. For athletes, they must be able to endure rigors of the game and be structurally sound. For your average Joe, his desk job and internet addiction is killing his posterior chain and shoulder stability. Using exercises like suspended hamstring curls, dynamic supine hip bridges, Y-T-W's and tons of row variations, I have found a way to safely and effectively correct common postural deviations. Believe it or not, after just a couple weeks of using the TRX, I saw muscles in my back and trap area I didn't even know existed! If nothing else, the TRX can be used as a GREAT corrective exercise tool for Upper Crossed Syndrome.