If you’ve seen a lot more people just “hanging around” at the gym lately, they might actually have  been using one of the latest, greatest fitness tools: TRX cables!

Original TRX was a military tool:

Also called suspension training, TRX cables were first introduced to the general public in 2005 by ex-Navy Seal and Stanford MBA graduate, Randy Hetrick. As the story goes, Hetrick first invented this revolutionary technique while holed up with his fellow seals in remote safe houses where they used salvaged parachute cables to keep their muscles fit and responsive. The rest, as they say, is history.

The popularity of TRX is still on the rise: 

Since 2005, interest in and use of suspension training has increased steadily with each passing year. Even so, there is still plenty of mystery surrounding the very best ways to utilize the TRX system.

Suspension training is based largely on building strength by pitting your muscles against your own body weight. But TRX cables can be also used to increase balance, endurance, and muscular coordination.

The entire system boils down to two ropes with loops for adjusting length and handles or a bar to grip and balance with. It’s so simple that, at first, performing entire work outs with TRX cables can seem restrictive. The truth is, the applications of this system are nearly limitless!

Complete TRX Exercise Guide:

Of course, the first thing you may have to do is set it up. So here is some installation advice: TRX Installation.

Whew! Nice work. Now, here are a few exercises with detailed, step-by-step pictures to get you started. Okay, it’s more like a few dozen of exercises. Good luck!

TRX Core Exercises

TRX Upper Body Exercises

TRX Lower Body Exercises

Despite some vocal concern from the uninformed, TRX does not need to be either hard on the joints or too challenging for use by nearly everyone. In fact, gentle suspension training can  even be used to rehabilitate injuries. Rehab Applications.

Once comfortable with the equipment, you’ll quickly see the benefits of TRX training, which will only increase over time and with frequent practice.

Interested in beginning a TRX routine? Perhaps consider booking an educational session with a personal trainer who is already enthusiastic about suspension training.

These days, such trainers are becoming pretty easy to find!

Shaun Karp is a certified personal trainer and the owner of Karp Personal Training and Rehabilitation in Vancouver, B.C. For further information call his office at 420-7800 or visit www.karpfitness.com.