6 REASONS ANYONE CAN USE RESISTANCE BANDS
Whether you exercise every day, have never done a workout in your life, or are a professional athlete.
1. RESISTANCE BANDS TEACH YOU TO FEEL WHAT’S WORKING
Whether you want to do bodyweight squats or 100kg squats, resistance bands help you feel which muscles are working. For example, in a squat - are your glutes activating? Can you make them work harder by working the band harder?
Often when we do exercises it can be easy to just go through the motions and not think about what is happening in your body. Trust me, if you’re not thinking about your glutes working in a squat, chances are they aren’t!
Even if you know your muscles are activating when you’re doing exercises, a band will help them work harder. Let’s face it - we all want as much as we can from a workout, no one does a workout in the hope of not getting better.
Work the band, work your muscles!
2. THEY TEACH YOU BETTER FORM
With one small band you can do numerous exercises, develop strength, stability and power - but they also help improve or consolidate your technique. Thinking about which muscles are working, where your weight is and whether you’re pushing or pulling against the band correctly really helps to improve your form and makes sure you’re not putting yourself at risk of injury.
Resistance bands also give you the opportunity to find the form that works for you. Unlike gym machines which have a “set path”, they let you move your muscles in a way that feels good for you. Whilst machines definitely have their place in training, depending on your body type and flexibility, they can impede your movements, meaning you sometimes have to move in a way which feels unnecessary and can result in pain or injuries. Bands however, let you work your full muscle range throughout the contraction and extension.
Additionally, bands also make it harder to use momentum in your exercises, meaning you have to work that little bit harder and make each rep top-level form.
3. RESISTANCE BANDS ARE GREAT FOR ALL BODY TYPES
Whether you’re a size 10, 16, 22 or any other size, the band doesn’t care and neither do we! You don’t need to be a specific shape, size, fitness level or hair colour to use resistance bands.
Even if you’re a seasoned gym goer or have never exercised and fancy trying something new you will 100% benefit from training with resistance bands. We fully believe that anyone and everyone can use bands to improve their strength, flexibility, cardio fitness and strength.
Resistance bands are adaptable for all body types, all heights, all ages and all ability levels.
4. AND ARE GREAT FOR ALL GOALS
Like we mentioned, whether you are brand new to exercise, a professional athlete or anything in-between, resistance bands are great for all of your goals.
Injured shoulder? Can be helped with the correct band re-hab.
New to exercise? Bands can help you learn which muscles you need to use.
Not got much space? Resistance bands don’t need any.
No access to a gym? Bands will help you make home workouts harder and challenge you on those body weight exercises.
Lifting heavy or want to increase the weight on your barbell? Use them to warm up, activate the muscles you need to use and work on your flexibility.
Professional athlete? Bands will help you warm up, activate the correct muscles before you compete and even stretch before and after your competition.
5. RESISTANCE BANDS ARE DESIGNED FOR COMPOUND MOVEMENTS
A compound movement is just a multi joint, multi muscle movement and you need to be doing them! There are a few on the list from press ups, pull ups (assisted by bands of course!), lat pull downs, squats, lunges and burpees (always fun!).
All of the above can be made harder by using resistance bands - yes even the burpees! As compound movements use more muscles they also make you work harder, meaning when you add a band you get an even more efficient workout, using more energy and improving your coordination. Short, sharp and effective!
6. AND THEY HELP YOU FOCUS YOUR CONTROL, YOUR BODY AND YOUR MOVEMENT
Resistance bands are similar to free weights - they help to use and challenge your smaller, stabilising muscles as well as those main muscles. Of course, this makes your muscles work harder but they also help improve your balance, general stability and are great for injury rehab (and pre-hab!). They’re also great in mimicking movements we do in everyday life which then helps us stay more mobile, flexible and stronger when we’re going about our daily tasks.
Having to think about what you’re doing with the bands - how you’re contracting your muscles, how long to hold the exercise, how tight to hold the tension, and when is the right time to release the band also makes your brain and body develop it’s coordination quickly!
If you have any questions about whether resistance bands are suitable for you, please get in touch and keep an eye out for our next blog talking all about the different ways you can use your bands!
