"You can vary that a lot and you want to do that, more than anything. If you bring other accessories into the mix, you're really going to change it," said TRX expert David Brainin of Crunch.
The TRX stands for Total Resistance Exercise.
"The TRX straps actually help to keep joint stability, more core stability, and it's very complimentary to all our yoga poses," said YogaWorks instructor Maeve McCaffrey.
But whether you're in class or flying solo, it's not uncommon to get into a rut. So many instructors are incorporating other fitness tools with the TRX to ramp up the workout.
"We bring in the TRX, we bring the BOSU, we bring the kettle bells, we bring in the jump rope in with some circuits," said Brainin.
At Crunch, it's called Circuit City workout, where Brainin has his clients doing cardio and strength work in 45-second intervals.
Using tools requires your core to stabilize while building muscles. To say it's challenging is an understatement.
"You're going to get high intensity mix of TRX together with cardio," said Brainin. "We have an element where we have more impact, more power-oriented moves, and at the same time, the strength is also ramped up with the kettle bells."
Well let's say you want to stretch rather than strengthen. The TRX is fabulous to focus on flexibility, especially when using yoga blocks.
"We're creating large movement patterns that allow you to increase your flexibility by becoming more strong," said McCaffrey.
You also can intensify moves to take your workout to the next level, like using gliding discs to lunge or yoga blocks to isolate certain sets of muscles while others contract simultaneously.
McCaffrey said the TRX also helps your body with proprioception which means knowing where you are in space and about how your body and joints support you.
At YogaWorks, the workout is known as YWX, or Yoga Works Cross Training, where the TRX helps stabilize new students in positions that otherwise might prove too challenging. It also provides a boost to the advanced exerciser with new and creative moves. The TRX plus fitness toys is a winning combination.
TRX classes at YogaWorks range from $10 to $22, depending on the package/amount of classes you purchase.
Crunch offers Circuit City w/TRX on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. All TRX classes are included with membership and a day pass can be purchased for $30.
YW Studios that offer TRX:
South Bay
740 Allied Way
El Segundo, CA 90245
(310) 322-6500
Tarzana
18700 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana, CA 91356
(818) 457-6900
