Suspension training.
The very words conjure up images of retirees with elastic bands, or trapeze artists hanging hundreds of feet in the air: “It’s circus time!”.
Well, I’ve got news for you!
Suspension training doesn’t have a hell of a lot to do with either of these.
And if you’re looking for a versatile and highly effective workout that doesn’t break the bank, suspension training may just be your golden ticket.
Read on to discover 8 benefits of suspension training you’re missing out on if you haven’t heard of this fantastic strap system. And why YOU should be doing suspension training, just like me!
Contents
What are The Benefits of Suspension Training?
Either you use my favorite, The Human Trainer Suspension Gym, or any other brand – the list of suspension training benefits could be long as the Great Wall of China…
Here’s a handpicked few:
Suspension Training Gives You Control
Whether you’re just getting off the couch for the first time in a while, you’re an exercise fanatic, or you’re an Olympic athlete – you can’t go wrong with suspension training.
This form of exercise is suitable for all levels of fitness (and commitment). Exercises can be simplified for beginners and boosted for experienced athletes – providing an appropriate level of strain suitable for any fitness goals.
This is achieved easily by shifting your body position and altering the angle of your body. These two variables control how much strain is placed on your body as you work out, so you have a high degree of control.
Total Body Workout
Due to the ultimate level of control it offers, you can effectively work your entire body using suspension training.
There are hundreds of exercises you can utilize using a suspension trainer – combining resistance and gravity to target particular muscle groups and disciplines.
One day work on your core muscles, the next your lower back, and the third focus on your flexibility.
The suspension straps take care of it all!
By rapidly changing exercises, you can easily create a time-efficient workout that leaves no stone unturned.
READ MORE:
Metabolic Targeting
Metabolic training focuses on quality, not quantity.
That is to say, working out at a higher intensity level for a shorter amount of time. This triggers the afterburn effect – supercharging the body’s metabolism to continue to burn calories even after finishing a workout.
Yes, that afterburn sure is great!
If that all sounds good to you, then suspension training might just be the answer to your woes as suspension training is highly compatible with this form of exercise.
Due to the ability to quickly alter your exercises, your heart and muscles are worked harder, stimulating the metabolism.
Set up a HIIT program using your body weight and suspension training exercises – it will rip you apart!
Yet another benefit of suspension training!
Portability
Business trips and holidays are just about the worst enemy of a healthy body. There isn’t always a gym nearby or a road to run on, and that’s where having a portable form of workout counts:
No matter where you are, suspension training can accommodate your workouts, indoors or outdoors.
The equipment required is highly compact, affordable, and can be easily stuffed into your luggage without a second’s thought. And at the desired location, hook up your straps and let your body weight and gravity do their work!
Core
One of the body’s most important muscle groups, the core is useful for just about any form of exercise (or non-exercise) there is.
Strengthening our spine, back and facilitating breathing – the core cannot be overlooked:
Having a strong core will enrich your overall level of fitness dramatically, as it is the foundation of a healthy body!
You’ll struggle to find a single suspension workout that doesn’t use your core – this is a form of exercise that cannot be performed without utilizing this muscle group.
“Suspension training uses your own body weight from different angles to engage more muscle groups at the same time. Think of it this way: Something as simple as a chest press or biceps curl becomes a core-stabilization exercise.”
Reference: mensfitness.com – The 5 toughest TRX exercises for a full-body workout
The position of the body is the core’s primary responsibility, and that’s why you are going to see dramatic results when it comes to your core strength. Twisting, swiveling, and pivoting, your core will be worked in ways you didn’t think were even possible!
Be ready for some seriously sore abs!
Balance And Coordination
While the majority of weight workouts are highly effective at building muscle, they do little to aid your body’s levels of balance and coordination.
In fact, building muscle may create an imbalance; as one muscle group becomes larger, another is neglected.
You don’t want to end up like a freak show now, do you?
“Muscular imbalance is seen when the muscles that surround a joint provide different values of tension, sometimes weaker or tighter than normal, thus limiting the joint movement.”
Reference: wikipedia.com – Muscle imbalance
This is (another) beautiful benefit of suspension training. While muscles are being worked – during every exercise your body must stay in control at all times to perform the exercise correctly.
This conditions your body for balance and coordination while building muscle.
Wow!
Super-Effective
If you have never tried suspension training before – you are into a surprise! Sure, it looks easy. But the fact is suspension training is way harder than lifting weights up and down, up and down…
While using the trainer you work nearly every muscle in your body, even the ones you did not think existed! In the process, you build what I call “real strength”. Functional strength that can be applied to everyday life activities. It’s pretty amazing!
Suspension training exercises are simply amazing at strengthening EVERY muscle – not isolating and working on a few “main muscles”.
Easy to Set up at Home
If you are working out from home, TRX suspension training is an excellent addition to your setup. Every exercise challenges your body, as your bodyweight work against gravity when you are working out. Resistance is easily shifted by changing your body position, and going from one exercise to the next can be done in seconds.
Setting up the trainer goes like a breeze, either you are using your door, wall, or roof as a mounting base for the anchor. Your body weight is all it takes to build massive strength, without a gym or personal trainer.
Final Words: Suspension Training Really Works
The list of suspension training benefits could be 10x longer… As you understand, I personally LOVE suspension training.
Hell, to take it even further:
If I could choose between a “Home Gym Multi Super GT6780 All-In-One FX”, and a suspension trainer, I would prefer the latter 7 days a week…
I feel like I’m doing a commercial here, but really, I’m not. It’s just me being honest about a piece of equipment I really enjoy.
So:
If you’re looking for a well-rounded and genuinely versatile workout, look no further than suspension training.
It has something to offer whatever your fitness goals are: improving strength, flexibility, balance, coordination – and not to mention turbocharging your metabolism to shed those unwanted pounds!
If you’re interested in getting one, you should check out my best suspension trainer reviews to make sure you end up with a trainer suited to YOUR needs.
Or skip the reviews and visit the Human Trainer Suspension System’s sales page.
Thanks for reading all to the end, see you!
Other Helpful Resources
- Home Strength Building Exercise and Workouts: The Ultimate Guide
- Best Dual Anchor Suspension Trainer Reviews
- 13 Suspension Training Pros And Cons You Should Know About!
- Which TRX to Buy: TRX Go vs Home vs Pro
- Who Invented TRX Suspension Training? History and Facts