February 20th, 2016

What is Suspension Training?

​We often underestimate ourselves when it comes to our own body’s strength. We think of things like push-ups and leg lifts to be additions to exercise, not it’s core goal. But what if those push-ups were on an incline? And your balance was being tested at the same time? That’s when you have something called Suspension Training.

Suspension training incorporates the use of straps attached to a frame for an exercise in strength and flexibility. Think of doing a single leg squat, where you raise one leg to about knee height while bending the other and lowering your body. Pretty tricky, right? If you add the suspended straps into the equation, the exercise suddenly becomes about balancing your weight between and focusing your center of gravity. Do enough of these types of exercises, and you’ll definitely begin to feel it.

Suspension training is a full body workout that uses straps and your own strength. In addition to working your body from every angle, it replicates real-life movement. This makes your body stronger and more stable overall, meaning you’ll be less prone to injury. Suspension training tests your balance and stability, defining your core. For many of the exercises a tight core ensures you remain balanced on the straps, and simple exercises like pushups become a core stabilization exercise.

Even though you can easily do suspension training at home, it’s best to join in on a few classes to make sure you get the technique down. There are a lot of different exercises you can do with suspension training, but without knowing how to safely do them you run the risk of injuring yourself. If your balance and stability isn’t strong, definitely get help from a fitness trainer to get your sea legs, this could save you a lot of unnecessary recovery time in the future!
So give suspension training a shot. You’ll become stronger and slimmer, and help ensure your body stays fit and stable as you age.