RESISTANCE BANDS CAN BE USED ALL YEAR!
DO YOU USE RESISTANT BANDS DURING YOUR OWN EXERCISE ROUTINE?
Resistance bands provide exercise variety, prevent cheating, and challenge your endurance.
Here are a selection of iPhone images of the types of resistant bands you can purchase at your local sports shop.
I am writing this blog to share my own exercise routine. I have started using resistance bands for my strength and toning workouts. During the lockdown for COVID-19, I researched ways to keep fit, and this was when I decided to buy a set and use them. I have attended some yoga classes where they use yoga belts to stretch and keep in position.
As a fitness photographer, I like to ask personal trainers I follow or have worked with for advice on any equipment I may start using.
So I asked an excellent personal trainer I follow via Instagram when she uses resistant bands, and here is what she said:
“ love using resistance bands to add load to lower body exercises like deadlifts and squats. My favourites are duck lunges, where you reverse lunge on a diagonal, and creeping sidewalks where you sidestep in a squat position. They’re also effective for keeping your alignment in yoga poses, such as bridge pose and downward dog”
Here are a few image examples of the exercises mentioned by Emma Yoga PT
Deadlifts
Squats
Duck lunges
Earlier in this blog, I explained why to use resistance bands in your workout, and let's consider the benefits:
SAME MUSCLE ACTIVITY, LESS INJURY CHANCE
A HIGHER MUSCLE STIMULUS
STABILIZATION/CORE ACTIVATION
IMPROVED STRENGTH & ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
MORE EXERCISE OPTIONS
INEXPENSIVE
IDEAL FOR REHABILITATION
STRETCHING & MOBILITY
SUITABLE FOR TRAVEL
By reading these benefits, you may use resistance bands in your workout. I wish to share with you my own workout routine, to tone up my legs & bum. After the quote from Emma Yoga PT, I think I will include duck lunges, bridge & deadlifts into my program, see below.
There are many types of resistant bands to try, and they are used for setting exercises and routines.
1. POWER RESISTANCE BANDS - are massive rubber bands. You can use loop bands for body weight assistance & full-body workouts.
2. TUBE RESISTANCE BANDS WITH HANDLES - They are suitable for chest presses, curls, back rows, shoulder presses and other exercises that involve pressing and pulling.
3. FIGURE 8 BANDS - They have soft handles at the top and bottom of the figure 8 shape. They stretch as far as you need them, targeting both your upper and lower body
I use these two types of resistance bands:
LIGHT THERAPY RESISTANCE BANDS - Therapy bands are made for people who gain strength after an injury and elderly people who want a low-impact workout. They are also effective when combined with Pilates and fat burner workouts
I use these light therapy bands for muscle toning.
RUBBER MINI-BANDS & FABRIC NON-SLIP HIP CIRCLE BANDS - MINI bands are like Power Resistance Loop Bands, but shorter and wider. MINI bands can increase strength and stability in your lower body.
These are the main bands I use in my workout. Currently, I am using the light band out of the pack of three I bought.
In this blog, I explain my own workout and types of resistance bands. I have quoted a personal trainer on which exercises to use these bands, and listed the benefits of using these bands in your workout.
I hope reading all this will encourage your own use of resistance bands
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