FitSugar

Class Act: TRX Training Center

FitSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:00:00 PST

It is the new year and I have decided to try some new things - one being new ways to workout. My most recent experiment was a TRX class. TRX is a suspension training program designed to work every large muscle group. The training center offers three different hour-long classes: Body Blast, Basic Training, and Power Stretch. I took an early morning Basic Training class and left with my upper body already aching.

A TRX suspension strap hangs from the ceiling and is used throughout the hour, whether you're gripping it with your hands or hooking the straps on to your feet. We started with a warm-up that was just enough time to wake up my muscles and give my heart rate a boost. Then, we moved on to an intense upper body segment that targeted the biceps, triceps, shoulders, chest, and back.

Some of the moves are exclusive to TRX, some are reminiscent of exercises you might do with weights, and some are back to basics, like push-ups. All were extremely effective. Each segment is broken up with cardio drills like high knees, quick feet, and jumping jacks; there were about five of these short drills throughout the class.

We moved on to lower-body and core segments that, at the time, felt more like continued upper-body training because you're still gripping the straps for many of these exercises. My soreness the following day let me know that some of those targeted movements hit the intended parts of my body, as my inner thighs were noticeably tight. The lower body movements incorporated variations of lunges, and the core segment involved several different planks.

To see my one gripe about the class,

read more. If you have any wrist issues, they may start giving you trouble during the hour because you're gripping the majority of the time. I found it increasingly difficult to keep my form because my wrists started acting up, so next time I may try wrapping them to prevent any strain. That said, I would definitely take a TRX class again because I left sweaty and satisfied. The typical drop-in rate is $20 for one class, but they have packages that bring down the cost and offer attractive promotional deals ($20 got me three classes). Does suspension training sound like something you might try? Source

4 Reasons to Try TRX Suspension Training

Leta Shy — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:45:17 PST

It may have been developed for the Navy SEALs, but you don't have to be in secret-weapon shape to work out with TRX. The concept of the TRX suspension training is pretty basic: you use two cables on your feet or hands to partially suspend your body and use your own body weight as resistance. The muscle groups you work as well as how hard you work them all depend on the positioning of your body on the cables.

To find out more about the benefits of the workout, I spoke with Randy Hetrick, former Navy SEAL and current CEO and founder of TRX, at the unveiling of the newly expanded TRX Training Center in San Francisco, CA. If you've ever wondered about all those odd-looking straps hanging in your gym, read on to find out more about working out with TRX.

It's for anyone: So, who should do TRX? Everyone, Randy says. "People who like yoga and Pilates tend to like TRX because there are some crossovers. But it's also great for runners, cyclists, or anyone who is an endurance athlete and wants to have more strength training." Even reluctant "power lifters" are usually swayed by the workout once they see how effective it can be at building muscle, he says.
It's beginner-friendly: Another reason to try a TRX class - it's easy to tweak exercises to your own level of difficulty and ramp up when necessary. "It's all user-defined," Randy says. "You determine how hard or how easy you really want to go. So really advanced or really beginners can work out in the same class and get what's right for them."

Read on for more reasons to try TRX.

Prepare Yourself For the TRX Challenge

Anna Monette Roberts — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:05:14 PDT

Perhaps you've seen people at your gym grunting and gasping when using the TRX suspension system. For a beginner, TRX may seem intimidating, but Angelica Gonzalez, a certified TRX trainer at Crunch fitness offers up some helpful TRX tips, so you are better prepared to enjoy this Navy Seal-inspired workout at your gym.

What to wear: Wear tennis shoes and comfortable, tight fitting clothing that won't get in your way. Don't wear running shorts, because you might unintentionally flash the class. Bring a towel, because you will be sweating.

When to arrive: Every gym has a different system, but at Crunch, the sign up sheet is put out an hour before class. Ask the gym receptionist what you should expect in terms of class popularity. For your first class, be sure to approach the instructor and let them know it's your first time. Your instructor should also be aware of any old injuries, past surgeries, or health conditions that you have.

At YogaWorks, It's Not All About the Mat

Michele Foley — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 03:05:12 PDT

Always a sucker for a deal, it was a free week pass that brought me out to review YogaWorks, a chain of yoga studios located throughout California and New York. While the amount (and types) of yoga classes that the San Francisco location offers is remarkable, I found myself coming back for three of its non-yoga offerings - DanceWorks, BarWorks, and SculptWorks. In these classes, I learned to let go, that small can equal sore, and came across a class completely unique to anything else I've ever tried.

DanceWorks - DanceWorks, the studio's newest offering, is an energetic hour-long dance cardio class. I took the class two times - in the first, the movements were rooted in jazz dance, and in the second, modern; the class format stayed the same in both classes. DanceWorks starts off with a dance warmup centered around proper breath and alignment; after the warmup, you learn individual dance steps, which are then pieced together into a short dance routine set to a popular song. In the beginning of class, I was feeling nervous and self-conscious, but, by the time class ended, I was lighter, looser, and more in touch with my body. While I did sweat a little, DanceWorks isn't an intense cardio workout or filled with overly complicated moves, which makes it a fun class regardless of your fitness level. Be ready to let go of your inhibitions and shake those hips!

Find out about both the BarWorks and SculptWorks classes after the break