10 Advantages of Resistance Training
There are a multitude of advantages of resistance training, but let’s quickly look first at what it actually is. Resistance training is designed to help build muscle strength and muscle endurance. A resistance workout involves you working against an external resistance, through pulling or pushing, and can be achieved with the use of body weight, weights, resistance bands or gravity.
A personal favourite for resistance training is the use of resistance bands and these are the top 10 reasons why:
Versatility-
These bands might not look like much, but they are hugely versatile when it comes to creating different exercise moves. You can use them to work pretty much any muscle group you want to focus on.
Lightweight-
You don’t need loads of space to store them for use at home and they’re super compact for throwing in your sports bag to take to the gym. They’re lightweight so there’s no excuses for not popping them into your luggage when you’re travelling!
Inexpensive-
You can buy resistance bands for as little as a few pounds, you could probably get one for the price of a Starbucks coffee. These are not an investment that you need to be cautious over.
Simple to use-
Resistance training with bands is so straight forward. Really simple exercises can be created. Therefore they are just as good for the beginner to exercise with as they are for the more experienced fitness fan.
Control-
You get the chance to move around a little more with bands than you would on a weights machine, meaning your muscles will learn how to control your movements more easily and you’ll work all of your stabilising muscles.
Resistance training is designed to help build muscle strength and muscle endurance.
Achievable targets-
Adding in a resistance band to certain moves can make the moves far more achievable than without having their support. Perfect example exercises are push ups and pull ups. This gives you the opportunity to start working the muscles you need for these moves even when you can’t do one without the use of the band.
Compound movements-
When you use resistance bands, you will be using a variety of different muscles at the same time, rather than isolating one muscle group. This gives you an all-round better full body workout.
Flexibility-
Resistance training with bands is great for improving your flexibility and range of motion. Your muscles contract when working against the resistance. When the resistance is relaxed, your muscles will stretch further than if you had just tried to stretch them without the initial resistance. What’s not to love about long and lean muscles?
Rehabilitation-
A firm favourite advantage, resistance bands are fantastic for strengthening an injury. Physiotherapists will often advise of their use.
Minimize injury-
You can really control how much force you exert when training with resistance bands. There is less pressure put on your joints. This means you are less likely to overload and will reduce your risk of injury whilst training.
At re:sculpt Personal Training, we love the use of resistance bands so much, that we have designed our very own Resistance Results workout for you to try at home, a training package that also comes with a fabulous discount on your purchase of resistance bands. Learn more here .
Written by Becky Barrett.
Becky Barrett is an international talent manager and personal fitness coach with over 15 years’ professional experience and a 1st class Honours degree in Business & Law.
Driven by her unique values of compassion and a holistic approach to talent management, Becky has devised an innovative solution to take on the fitness industry with a brand-new personal fitness concept that aims to inspire and boost ‘new normal’ approaches to exercise routines.
Features include: Health & Wellbeing, Natural Health, Arden University, The Telegraph, BBC, Time & Leisure, Bdaily News, The Stage.