Ever heard of the TRX suspension trainer? I occasionally see people using it in the gym (most people don’t know what to do with it unless they’ve worked with a personal trainer or watched somebody else); they typically limit themselves to only doing body rows or basic push-ups. Both of those exercises are great examples of total body movements that engage the core as well as the shoulder complex and upper extremities, and it’s a great place to start for beginners. But you probably aren’t aware of just how many stretches and exercises that can be done with this simple implement, and some of them are real butt kickers!
Here’s a short video courtesy of the American Council on Exercise with TRX inventor and former Navy Seal Randy Hetrick, who shows a 10-15 minute total body workout that will get your heart pounding, burn a ton of calories, melt body fat, challenge your balance, and increase your strength and flexibility. I use many of these exercises with my clients – one of my favorites is the lunging flye. It’s a great exercise for anyone who sits alot, as it helps stretch out the chest and hip flexors simultaneously while serving as a nice warm-up.
These fun and innovative exercises can be done anytime, anywhere, as part of a longer workout, or on its own as a quick metabolic blast. And if you’re a rock climber, you’ve already got everything you need to make your own version of a suspension trainer similar to the TRX 🙂