Sometimes, it’s necessary to be creative with training when circumstances are out of our control. It could be finding ways to train at home, when the gym is not an option, or looking for training options that allow us to return from injury or time off.
Resistance bands are an ideal tool to add to your tool or health club bag. Bands offer many benefits that will convince even the most dedicated iron-stuffing believers that they are worth the investment.
Here are 10 reasons to think in bands
1. They offer different levels of resistance
Bands provide resistance in a similar way to weights. They can be used for light rehabilitation or strong pull-up help. If you double the resistance of a single band, it can double its effectiveness.
You don’t have to use the same size band for all your workouts. There are many sizes to choose from for different levels of resistance. For smaller muscle groups, such as triceps and biceps, use lighter bands. Larger bands can be used to train your legs or back.
2. Bands are budget-friendly
Another great advantage of resistance band is their low cost. You can do a lot of exercises if you have several resistance levels. They can be used in any direction, so it’s cheaper to buy a few bands than a universal machine or lots of dumbbells.
You can also use bands with your existing devices, so you don’t have to toss all your space-hogging devices. Bands can be used with any type of training design. They are as at home in a strongman gym as they are in a yoga studio.
3. They can help improve flexibility
There are many people that could help us increase our flexibility, especially those who raise. Bands are a great way to strengthen your muscles and increase your range of motion. You can also benefit from improved flexibility and movement, which will have positive effects on your overall health.
4. Bands make for a great warm-up
Simulating the movements you would perform in an exercise is a great way to heat up. The use of bands is especially useful for warming up and pumping blood to muscles. This is why they have been an integral part of bodybuilding competitions for many years.
You can heat up with bands by changing your maker or using a free-weight movement that mimics it. If you are doing shoulder presses, for example, hold one end of the band in your hand and place the other on the opposite side. This will heat up the shoulder muscles and prepare them for the extra volume and strength that lies ahead.
5. Bands help to increase muscle contraction with little joint impact
A band can cause a strain in the muscles that is caused by a contraction. This means that you will need to work harder to maintain the contraction. If done correctly, adding bands to your curls and chest presses will give you a new level of density and solidity.
The included resistance bands won’t cause any damage to your joints as much as dumbbells or plates that are heavier. You will feel instant relief from your joints when the band relaxes as you return to its original position. You can increase your muscle work and lower the pressure on your knees, shoulders or lower back depending on the workout.
6. They can help you lose weight
The pull-up is a popular exercise that many people struggle with. A popular way to increase your bodyweight is to use additional support. This could be in the form of a friend or a trainer who can help you hold your feet.
There are not always helpers in every gym. To master the pull-up, wrap the band around the pull up bar. Place your foot or knee on the bottom loop to continue the exercise. To help you reach your reps, the band provides additional support when you need it.
7. They can provide additional resistance
Bands can also be used in the opposite way. The band can be wrapped around your body, and the other end around the bottom of the pull up station. You will have to pull yourself up more than with your own body weight. You can add resistance to your favorite bodyweight exercises by using the band.
The possibilities are endless. Bands can also add vibrant resistance to dumbbells or devices quickly, especially if the stack is not enough. Simply place your band completions around the deals with of a maker, with the middle of your band at the center. This is an easy way to add stress to your raise. As you perform slope or flat presses, anchor a band behind your bench. Lockout will be more difficult than the negatives. You’re welcome.
8. Bands offer new ways to do difficult exercises
You can use bands to do workouts that you may not be comfortable with. Great early mornings is one example. To reinforce your posterior chain, you can hinging at your hips and placing a barbell across the back of the shoulders for a great early morning.
This motion can be difficult for some lifters. They may not be able to hold the bar correctly in their shoulders and have lower neck pain due to the weight being supported while they flex over. These concerns can be reduced by using a band to perform the workout. A band helps to reduce the pressure on the shoulders and hold the band in place. The resistance is weakest at bottom, where the lower back is most vulnerable.
You can also use bands to do seclusion exercises that are difficult to perform with dumbbells like curls. Your weaker arm will usually fail first, so a dumbbell that is as heavy at the bottom as at the top of a curl is just as heavy at its top. Bands are easier to raise at bottom and increase resistance at top. This matches the strength curve of your arms and allows you to use both arms more efficiently without having to adjust your weights.
9. Bands Are Great for Finishers
Bands can push a lot of blood into your muscles, as we have already discussed. They are also a great tool for finishing. You’ll not only be able to carry out more associates at the conclusion of your exercise but you will also face the unfavorable effects of band stress.
A rear delt pull-apart is the maximum option for a finisher. Each end of the band should be held at arm’s length. Keep your hands as straight as possible, aiming at the rear delt. To maintain stress, you can hold that position for 2 seconds and then return to the starting position. Continue until you fail.
10 They Are Highly Portable
Bands have the advantage of being portable. You will be able to use bands in your exercise routine, and you’ll have everything you need.
You can either carry a few bands in your luggage or keep them in your bag for when you are exercising. Bands are lightweight and don’t take up much space. Many band workouts can be done in a hotel room, a garage or a corner at your gym. You always have options if your local health club is closed, or you can’t make it to the gym.