Maximizing Your Workouts by Adding Resistance Bands
There are so many pieces of equipment available for working out. Many become only trends and some have really stood the test of time. I highly recommend any piece of equipment that has multiple uses and can be used in creative ways. If a piece of equipment only has one function, don’t waste your money. One of the most versatile pieces that will never go out of style are resistance bands. They now come in a variety of shapes and strengths and can be used in many ways.
Warm-up and activation
Bands are really great for warming up. Shoulder and hip exercises are fantastic for getting the body ready for work, which could include sport or lifting at the gym. Bands are very often used in rehabilitation exercises as well as prevention/supplementation. Getting the right muscles to activate in the right order is easier to achieve with bands than most other pieces of equipment. If you are using bands as a warm-up, I usually recommend only one set so as not to fatigue the working muscles. You are looking only for warming up, or getting the target muscles to start working.
On their own
In the video, I demonstrate different bands and how each can be used. Put 10-12 of these together and you have a full body workout for either a snowed-in day or vacation workout. They are so easy to pack in a suitcase! When using resistance bands at home or on vacation, the risk of injury is much lower. You can modify and adjust the strength so easily. Listening to your body will help guide your amount of resistance and how hard you can push your workout. Other pieces of equipment are more structured in their purpose. Resistance bands are versatile. You can modify for the amount of space you have and be creative with the motion. Remember to make sure you are using correct form and holding your posture. You can even tie them to golf clubs or hockey sticks to add resistance to enhance sport specific training!
Add to your workout
You can also incorporate some of these exercises into your general workout as well. They provide wonderful ways to modify traditional exercises. You can use dumbbells and bands together or mix them into circuits. Having a variety of ways to get resistance benefits your joints and muscles. Bands vary in strength throughout your range of motion. That means the body has to accommodate to the change of resistance. Using a free weight or weighted bar will offer a more consistent resistance. Variety is the spice of life!
How to choose
Resistance bands are elastic in nature so the tighter the band the more resistance it will offer. You can buy or use almost any strength and adjust your tension as needed, to an extent. Generally speaking, the darker the colour of band, the stronger it is. Choosing the right resistance band depends on your exercise selection. It is important to be able to maintain good posture and perform the exercise correctly. If the band is too strong, you will compromise form. If the band is too light, you won’t get enough out of the exercise. Sometimes this is more of an art than a science. Bands are certainly very low cost and last quite a while. When purchasing them, buy a few resistances so that you can accommodate almost any exercise. And as you get stronger, you will already have a stronger band to work towards.
In summary, bands are great for either modifying a traditional exercise or for getting variety into your workout. They are perfect for everyone and are very easy to take with you as you travel around.
Warm-up and activation
Bands are really great for warming up. Shoulder and hip exercises are fantastic for getting the body ready for work, which could include sport or lifting at the gym. Bands are very often used in rehabilitation exercises as well as prevention/supplementation. Getting the right muscles to activate in the right order is easier to achieve with bands than most other pieces of equipment. If you are using bands as a warm-up, I usually recommend only one set so as not to fatigue the working muscles. You are looking only for warming up, or getting the target muscles to start working.
On their own
In the video, I demonstrate different bands and how each can be used. Put 10-12 of these together and you have a full body workout for either a snowed-in day or vacation workout. They are so easy to pack in a suitcase! When using resistance bands at home or on vacation, the risk of injury is much lower. You can modify and adjust the strength so easily. Listening to your body will help guide your amount of resistance and how hard you can push your workout. Other pieces of equipment are more structured in their purpose. Resistance bands are versatile. You can modify for the amount of space you have and be creative with the motion. Remember to make sure you are using correct form and holding your posture. You can even tie them to golf clubs or hockey sticks to add resistance to enhance sport specific training!
Add to your workout
You can also incorporate some of these exercises into your general workout as well. They provide wonderful ways to modify traditional exercises. You can use dumbbells and bands together or mix them into circuits. Having a variety of ways to get resistance benefits your joints and muscles. Bands vary in strength throughout your range of motion. That means the body has to accommodate to the change of resistance. Using a free weight or weighted bar will offer a more consistent resistance. Variety is the spice of life!
How to choose
Resistance bands are elastic in nature so the tighter the band the more resistance it will offer. You can buy or use almost any strength and adjust your tension as needed, to an extent. Generally speaking, the darker the colour of band, the stronger it is. Choosing the right resistance band depends on your exercise selection. It is important to be able to maintain good posture and perform the exercise correctly. If the band is too strong, you will compromise form. If the band is too light, you won’t get enough out of the exercise. Sometimes this is more of an art than a science. Bands are certainly very low cost and last quite a while. When purchasing them, buy a few resistances so that you can accommodate almost any exercise. And as you get stronger, you will already have a stronger band to work towards.
In summary, bands are great for either modifying a traditional exercise or for getting variety into your workout. They are perfect for everyone and are very easy to take with you as you travel around.
