Using Exercise
Bands, Balls and Tubes
by Maia Appleby
 When
the words "resistance training" are spoken,
most people picture weight machines and dumbbells.
In order to do this type of exercise, it seems
that one would either have to go to a gym or
buy thousands of dollars worth of equipment
to keep in a room at home.
Since the number one excuse people give for
not exercising is lack of time, going to a gym
is entirely inconvenient for many people, and
building a home gym isn't a practical option
for the average person, resistance training
is only for those who either have lots of spare
time, lots of money and a huge house, right?
Not at all. Resistance training comes in many
flavors. As long as we have gravity, we can
challenge our muscles effectively. Doing a push-up
is one example of a resistance exercise. Instead
of using weight from another source, you're
using your body weight to challenge your chest
and arm muscles, and you will get toned up just
as well as you would using a pec deck or a bench
press.
Elastic
tubing and bands are great
for those who want to get the benefits of weight
training without using traditional weights.
If the gym scene doesn't work for you, they
just might. Here are some reasons why:
They're economical. For under $50,
you can get everything you need to constitute
a resistance workout. They're portable. If you're going
on a trip, they'll easily fit into your suitcase,
taking up about as much room as one shirt. They're convenient. You don't need
special benches to position yourself properly.
You can do an entire workout with a folding
chair. They're versatile. There's so much
you can do with elastic bands and tubes, you
can change your routine around to suit your
fitness level and further your progress. They're gentle. The impact level
with elastic equipment is much lower than
with weights, so it's much easier on the joints. They're easy. Learning and performing
the exercises is simple enough for beginners.
If you're trying to lose weight or tone up,
you don't need gym weights to reach your goals.
You'll see the same improvements with other
methods. As long as your muscles are challenged,
they'll rebuild themselves between workouts
and you'll get the results you're looking for.
Resistance training is possible for everyone.
No more excuses!
Another alternative is Swiss
exercise balls. To read an article
about them, click
here.
|
Reebok
Resistance Tubes
• Comfort Padded Grips
• Professional-Grade Tubing
• Compact Design
• Different Lengths and Resistance Levels
• Includes FREE Strength Reebok Workout Guide
$9.95.
|
|
