A lot of people nowadays are opting to build muscle tone instead of bulk. Often,
people use this approach to losing weight because it's effective and will result in a sculpted body. This one reason why yoga, zumba, pole dancing, pilates, tae bo, and other similar exercise programs have grown so much in popularity of late. While cardio is certainly helpful when it comes to weight loss, building muscle is essential to burn more calories while at rest.
With band resistance training, achieving toned muscles is more convenient because they are highly portable can be done anywhere. Here are just a few exercises that you can do with resistance bands at home or the office.
Bicep Curl
Begin by placing your feet on the middle of the band, and grasp the handles. If you want more resistance, spread your feet out further than hip width apart. Begin pulling the handles and execute the curl in a slow, controlled motion. Release and repeat. If done consistently, this exercise will tone your biceps in no time.
Chest Press
Wrap the band around something that is stable, such as a pole or door handle. Next, get a firm grasp of the handles with palms turned towards one another. Create tension by taking several steps forward. As you extend your arms out, the tubing will run right under your armpits. As you push forward with your arms, slowly squeeze your chest muscles. Repeat the whole process. The motion should always be controlled.
One-Arm Reverse Fly
First, step on one end of the band with your feet. Grab the other end with one hand and slowly lean forward. Keep your back straight and abs engaged as you lean forward to about a 45 degree angle. A slight bend of the elbow is required to hold the band correctly in a fixed position. To perform the exercise, pull your arm backward to the point where your shoulder blades are touching; then return to the original position and repeat.
A two handed version can be done by grabbing both handles and stepping on the middle part of the band.
The aforementioned are just a few simple but practical upper body exercises using resistance bands. You can get the same type of muscle tone from this type of training as you would by using weights.
On top of this, band resistance training can easily be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of fitness level or gender. It's an alternative for anyone who doesn't enjoy using free weights. It's also the most inexpensive home gym on the market. Besides, using the band is a lot of fun and really gives you a solid workout.
