The word ‘exercise’ can often fill people with dread. Me personally, I love it, if I love it! And by that, I mean it’s got to be the kind of exercise that I love doing, not the type that fills me with dread! Finding TRX initially induced mixed emotions; but now I am a few weeks in, the dread has passed, the sessions are more enjoyable, and I am loving the results.

I am a firm believer that there is a form of fitness out there for everybody – you’ve just got to find it. And that might mean trying a lot of things you don’t like, to find the one thing you do like. But whatever you do, try and connect exercise to movement. Static exercises do have a purpose, yes, but ultimately, we all need to be functionally fit, so that means ‘fit for purpose’. You could argue that if you are in an office job sitting down all day, your body doesn’t require much from you; but the truth is, it does. You need to move on a daily basis, pain free and with ease and mobility – that is functionally fit. So, choosing a type of exercise that involves movement is always a good place to start. Dance, skip, run, just keep your body moving, because that’s what it was designed to do.

In the ever-evolving world of fitness, TRX training has emerged as a versatile and highly effective workout method that emphasises functional movement. TRX training utilizes suspension straps to leverage body weight for a myriad of exercises. This innovative approach to fitness underscores the importance of functional movement in everyday life and offers a host of benefits that cater to individuals of all fitness levels.

So, what is TRX Fitness Training?

TRX – Total Resistance Exercises – involves the use of suspension straps that allow for a wide range of bodyweight exercises. The adjustable straps can be anchored to a door, wall, or any sturdy structure, making TRX training highly adaptable to different environments. You can literally take it anywhere with you from the park to the beach. The instability created by the suspension system requires the engagement of multiple muscle groups, promoting balance, strength, flexibility, and most importantly, core stability.

Benefits of TRX Fitness Training

1. Improved core strength is fundamental to all movement and TRX training is exceptionally effective at targeting the core muscles. So many TRX exercises, such as the plank, pike and atomic push-ups, require continuous engagement of the core. The core, as we know, is essential for overall stability and lumbar strength; so improving core strength and stability naturally reduces the risk of lower back strain.
2. Enhanced Functional Movement – TRX training focuses on functional movements—those that mimic everyday activities. By training the body in multiple planes of motion, TRX exercises improve coordination, balance, and flexibility, making daily tasks easier, therefore reducing the risk of injury.
3. Versatility and Adaptability – One of the most significant advantages of TRX training is its versatility. Whether you are a beginner or an elite athlete, TRX exercises can be modified to match your fitness level. The intensity of each exercise can be adjusted by changing the angle of the body relative to the ground, allowing for scalable workouts.
4. Increased Muscular Endurance and Strength – TRX workouts incorporate both strength training and cardiovascular components, enhancing muscular endurance and overall strength. Exercises such as the TRX row, chest press, and squat challenge major muscle groups, leading to increased muscle tone and endurance.
5. Improved Balance and Coordination – The instability provided by the suspension straps requires the body to maintain balance, engaging stabiliser muscles that are often neglected in traditional strength training. This leads to improved proprioception (body awareness) and coordination.
6. Low Impact, High Efficiency – TRX training is a low-impact workout, making it suitable for individuals with joint issues or those recovering from injury. Despite its low-impact nature, TRX provides a highly efficient full-body workout, maximising calorie burn and muscle engagement in a short period. Believe me, at the end of my first session with TRX Trainer, Michelle, I felt like every muscle in my body had been activated!