Workout Review: TRX Suspension Training

Hello! Thank goodness typing doesn’t require much arm strength or this post wouldn’t be happening. My arms burn so good.

If you follow me on Instagram (which ya should!), then you saw this pic pop up on Monday night. Yep. I kept to my word from my Monday post and tried out a TRX class!

The rundown…

TRX is a suspension trainer (two adjustable straps with handles and foot cradles) that uses gravity and your own bodyweight to perform the exercises. By adjusting your body position with the suspension trainer you can change the difficulty and resistance of each movement.

Some of you might actually recognize this cable and cord looking system from something you have seen online or on tv. This is a system that can be done at home or through a professional setting.

From the TRX Training website:

The TRX Suspension Trainer:

• Delivers a fast, effective total-body workout
• Helps build a rock-solid core
• Increases muscular endurance
• Benefits people of all fitness levels (pro athletes to seniors)
• Can be set-up anywhere (gym, home, hotel or outside

My Experience

I had heard rumblings of TRX for a few months. I knew I wanted to try it out but I wanted a more guided (and motivating) environment than just trying it out at home. Plus, my doors are weak in my apartment. I can see this being a disaster.

I found a groupon for Action Athletics(a2) in Newton, Ma. It is a personal training studio that is run by husband and wife duo, Sheri and Nate.

I’ve driven by the space a few times so I knew what to expect, but if you were a first timer at this location you might be a little weirded out.

Once inside the space was open, clean, bright and really inviting. There was even a space to put your belongings (hello gloves, winter coat, and stupid boots!).
 

The TRX setup is the main focus at this studio. There are enough TRX suspension trainers to have 10 people working out at one time.

The studio also has a bootcamp style set-up for some of the other training programs that Action Athletics offers.

Including a rope wall, which is literally something from my nightmares. Ropes and exercise are just a horrible combo for me.

My class had five people in and two of us were brand new. Nate took his time going over the entire TRX system, how it works, and the break down of the class. Our class on Monday was titled CORE SHREDDER.

We started off with a warm-up on the TRX and moved right into the CORE part of the class. We did three different plank style workouts. A regular plank, a plank with a butt lift, side planks and then a spider plank (alternating knees coming to elbows).

I can do a decent plank. I CAN NOT do a decent plank on the TRX. My arms just couldn’t hold me up with my legs dangling in the foot cradles behind me. I was all over the place! Whomp Whomp. I ended up doing the plank exercises on the ground (very well, I might add!) and felt a little frustrated. Utilizing the TRX for the plank adds a whole other element to this simple move. It was challenging in a way that a plain ol’ plank just can’t be. I gave the TRX the evil eye and it just stared back at me. Grrr….

This woman…show off.

Next up was the SHREDDER part of the class. We went through a circuit of lunges, pull-ups (laying on our back) and front presses. By far my favorite was the front press.

You can make this exercise more or less difficult depending on where you stand with your feet. I could feel this in my calf muscles like crazy!

The lunges felt great too because I liked that I got a leg workout in, but also the burn in my arms from pulling myself up.

 

The pull-up move made me laugh. We were backs on the ground. First we did a butt lift and then pulled ourselves up off the ground. I felt like I was pulling so hard and moving so much, but when I let myself go back to the ground I realized that I was pulling myself up maybe 2 inches. Wahhhh. By the end of this move I could feel my whole body pleading with me to give up.

The last move of the class, BURNER, was a series of squats into standing planks. My legs were dying by the end of the class. Actually, so were my triceps, my butt, my quads, and my shoulders.

My final verdict…

I LOVED IT!

This workout is unlike any I have tried. It isn’t face paced like Zumba or Spinning. It feels almost more like strength training, but I feel like it can definitely work up the same sweat depending on the moves you perform. The device allows for a TON of different moves so you can literally work all your muscles. I love that I felt almost each move in my core and that we worked on balance and coordination at the same time as the strength training.  No need for different sized weights or a multitude of bars. Just you and the TRX.

I didn’t try the home version of the TRX system, but I did enjoy the professional setting. I liked the attention of the trainer. He was not only encouraging, but also provided some great feedback on my form and how I could improve each exercise. I felt like by the end I was doing the exercise the way it should be done and could feel the muscles it was supposed to be working.

I could see it possibly being a bit irritating to the people who have been doing it for a bit to wait for the newbies in class to figure it out each time. If you decided to take this class near you, find out if there is a beginners class. You can pick it up pretty easily, but a few of the moves take a minute or two to figure out.

This couldn’t replace my loved cardio choice, Zumba, but it is a great addition to my workout schedule! I have 9 more classes left on my Groupon and then I will consider signing up for a package (10 classes for $100).

Oh, and locals, if you like Action Athletics on Facebook you can get 1 free class!

Yay for trying a new workout! I’m 1/3 done with #13 on my 33W33. Woot! I’ll keep you posted on how the classes go. I’m going to try to go 1-2x a week.

Have a great day! Let me know what your absolutely FAVORITE workout is! Running? Zumba? Step (I know there are some of you out there!)?

See ya Friday!

Tagged as: 33W33, review, TRX, workout