Exercise bands are circular loops of flexible rubber (without or with adjustable handles), sometimes used in strength or stretching training. Since they’re fairly straightforward, exercise bands are very affordable and simple to purchase from a variety of outlets.
One of the most common uses for exercise bands is for resistance training, which makes them an excellent choice for those just starting out with strength training and bodybuilding, or even advanced bodybuilders looking to add more resistance to their routines. And although exercise bands aren’t meant for everyone, there are some benefits to them that make them a good choice for many people.
First, exercise bands provide an all-over workout for your body. Unlike free weights, exercise bands target not only certain parts of the body, such as your arms, shoulders, legs, and back, but also all of the major muscle groups in your body. Because of this, you can get a full-body workout from just one set of exercise bands.
If you use free weights, only a portion of your muscles will be used, and if you do multiple sets you’re defeating the purpose by overloading the different muscle groups with exercise bands. With free weights you’re working isolated muscles, which can lead to injuries.
Another benefit of exercise bands is that they keep your workout in one place. You don’t have to constantly change your exercises around to keep your workouts fresh and interesting. For example, when you exercise pull-ups, you’re actually exercising your back, and when you do pull-ups you’re working your biceps, and when you do pull-ups you’re working your abdominals, etc. With exercise bands you can easily do the same workout over. This keeps your workout fresh, and in one spot so you can focus on each muscle group.
The last benefit of exercise bands is that they help you use much less weight than you would using traditional weights. With traditional weights you’re usually working several muscles at once, which increases the risk of strain and burns more calories. With exercise bands you can work your muscles in a single motion, which burns more calories and provides a much safer workout overall.
Because the resistance is fixed, you don’t have to worry about setting the resistance level to the lowest weight you can manage throughout the rep. As long as you can do the reps, the band is providing the resistance, and you can safely increase the weight as you’re able. Exercise bands also allow you to vary your workout, so you won’t get bored in the same routine, and you can mix it up every so often to keep your body guessing.
If you haven’t tried using exercise bands to improve your workout at home, I highly recommend giving them a try. They can take your average home gym and give you results comparable to a commercial gym. If you already have a gym membership, you may be skeptical, but even gym members are using resistance bands to give their routines a boost, and they love it. I don’t see why you won’t experience the benefits these bands offer, so take advantage and start using them today. You’ll never regret it!
