TRX

Strength at every level

TRX is a suspension trainer: two straps with handles. You are not sitting on a machine, you move your own body weight, balancing between the floor and the strap. That is why your core works on every exercise, even when you are concentrating on your arms or legs.

What kind of class is this?

Sixty minutes, warm-up and cool-down included. The instructor leads you through sequences on the strap: pulls, presses, squats, lunges, core work.

The particular thing about TRX is that your body position sets the intensity, not the weight. Lean back further, or step closer to the anchor point, and the same exercise gets harder. One step forward and it gets easier, which is how a beginner and a regular can work side by side in the same class.

How do I know if it suits me?

If you want to get stronger but machines do not appeal to you, and you like having someone watch your form, this is a good fit. You can walk in as a beginner: in your first class the instructor goes through the settings and shows you the easier variations.

Because the strap is gentle on the joints, it works for people who find weights or running too much, but if you have a recent injury, tell the instructor before the class.

Why is it worth trying?

• Full-body training in sixty minutes, without machines
• Works the deep muscles that hold your posture
• Easy on the joints: no impact, no jarring
• Made easier or harder by a change of position, so it grows with you
• Strength, endurance and balance at the same time