Resistance Band is Your New Weapon for Strength Training

Debjit Das
7 min readSep 6, 2023

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Resistance bands level up your strength training game. Work out with a resistance band for more than being in shape.

Are you ready to unleash the power of an incredibly versatile fitness tool that’s taking the exercise world by storm? Say hello to the superstar of workout equipment — resistance bands!

Picture this: You’re working with a fitness trainer armed with a secret weapon that guarantees a full-body transformation. They pull out these colourful elastic bands, and you can’t help but wonder, “What sorcery is this?”

Compact and portable resistance bands are your go-to fitness buddies, offering endless gains wherever you go. Say hello to a new level of interactivity and results with these vibrant bands!

Why Do You Choose a Resistance Band in Strength Training?

Here are some of the incredible benefits of using resistance bands for fitness training:

Portable and Affordable

Portability is one of the key advantages of these bands, with the features like compact and lightweight.

Full-Body Workout

Resistance bands engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously, providing a comprehensive full-body workout. Unlike traditional weightlifting, where specific muscle groups may be neglected, resistance bands allow for a more balanced and functional approach to strength training.

Versatility and Adaptability

With resistance bands, you can customize the intensity of your workouts by simply adjusting the band’s tension or using different bands with varying resistance levels.

Joint-Friendly and Injury Prevention

Resistance bands offer a lower impact on joints than heavyweights, reducing the risk of injuries and strain.

Enhances Flexibility and Range of Motion

They can also be utilized for stretching exercises, enhancing overall flexibility and preventing muscle tightness.

Ideal for Rehab and Physical Therapy

Resistance bands are frequently recommended in rehabilitation and physical therapy settings. They help in strengthening specific muscle groups while maintaining controlled movements, aiding in the recovery process.

Engages Stabilizing Muscles

During resistance band exercises, stabilizing muscles are engaged to maintain balance and control.

Time-Efficient Workouts

Incorporating resistance bands into your routine can save time, as they enable quick transitions between exercises and eliminate the need to adjust heavy weights or machines.

Varied Exercise Options

Resistance bands offer various exercise options that target every major muscle group, from upper-body workouts like bicep curls and shoulder presses to lower-body exercises like squats and leg lifts.

Some Exercises with Resistance Bands for Better Outcome in Strength Training

Lateral Raise

This is a fundamental exercise if your fitness trainer wants to use resistance bands to advance your strength training.

1. Standing with your knees slightly bent, your right foot front and flat on the ground, and your left foot back, secure the resistance band beneath your right foot.

2. Hold the band’s ends with your arms by your sides.

3. Lift your arms parallel to the floor and out to the sides.

4. Repetition follows a leisurely return to the beginning position.

Benefits
Strength training exercises called lateral rises primarily target the deltoids in the shoulder muscles. This exercise strengthens and stabilizes the shoulders, promotes posture, and improves upper-body definition overall. You may experience improved shoulder mobility and a more sculpted, toned physique by including lateral raises in your workout.

Banded Push-Up

Give your strength training routine a twist with a resistance band.

1. In the push-up position, space your hands wider than shoulder-width apart.

2. Put the resistance band between your hands, then wrap it behind your shoulders.

3. Slowly lower your chest to the floor. After that, bend your elbows until your arms are at a 90-degree angle to the floor to start performing push-ups.

4. Repeat after raising yourself back up to the beginning position.

Benefits

Banded push-ups in fitness training offer numerous benefits.

By adding resistance bands, this exercise intensifies the challenge, engaging the chest, triceps, and shoulders more effectively. It promotes increased muscle activation, helps build upper body strength, and improves stability and overall functional fitness.

Bicycle Crunch

1. Rest your arms at your sides and lie flat on your back with a closed-loop resistance band around your feet.

2. Look ahead by raising your shoulders, neck, and head. As you bring the left knee toward the chest while simultaneously extending the right leg a few inches above the mat, keep your lower back firmly planted on the floor.

3. Extend the left leg while pushing the right knee toward the chest to turn the legs around.

4. Repeat.

Benefits

Incorporating a resistance band into bicycle crunches amplifies the benefits of this core exercise in fitness training. The added resistance engages the abdominal muscles, obliques, and hip flexors more intensely, enhancing strength and toning. This dynamic workout also improves balance, flexibility, and core stability, making it a fantastic addition to any fitness regimen.

Resistance Band Glute Kick-Back

1. Start out on your hands and knees with a resistance band wrapped around your left ankle and the arch of your right foot.

2. Lifting your right leg, stretch it straight behind you while you push against the band’s resistance.

3. Your leg should be as straight as possible.

4. Return your leg to its initial position slowly. That is one rep.

Benefits

These are excellent strength training exercises targeting the glutes.

By engaging the gluteus maximus, this move enhances lower body strength, promotes hip stability, and contributes to a sculpted, lifted appearance. It’s a must-have for a powerful and well-defined lower body in any strength training routine.

Standing Leg Abduction

1. Secure the band around your ankles, feet shoulder-width apart.

2. Stand tall, engage your core, and maintain good posture.

3. Step one foot laterally, creating tension in the band.

4. Lift the leg sideways with control, activating hip abductors.

5. Hold briefly, then return the leg to starting position without touching the other leg.

6. Repeat 10–15 times per leg for enhanced lower body strength and stability in fitness training.

Benefits

Standing Leg Abduction with a resistance band is a powerful fitness training exercise that targets and strengthens the hip abductor muscles. By incorporating the band’s resistance, it enhances muscle activation and stability. This exercise helps improve balance, tones the outer thighs, and improves overall lower body strength, making it a practical addition to any fitness routine.

If you want to include these cool and colourful bands in your strength training regime, fuel up your soul to indulge in wellness with resistance bands. Our ACSM trainer, Debjit Das, is here to level up your wellness regime.

FAQs

Can resistance bands be used for strength training?

Resistance bands are quite useful for strength training. They provide muscle-challenging resistance, increasing strength and muscular growth. They are the perfect equipment for a full-body strength training program because they can be utilized to target various muscle groups. They are also affordable and portable, making them appropriate for people of all fitness levels.

What is the purpose of resistance band training?

Resistance band training is intended to:

● Strengthening bands offer increasing resistance, targeting different muscle areas and aiding muscular growth and development.

● Incorporating bands into stretching promotes flexibility and range of motion.

● Increase Endurance: Constant resistance works the muscles, increasing endurance and stamina.

● Engage Bands trigger stabilizing muscles, which improves balance and coordination.

● Low impact nature makes it safe for joints, lowering the chance of injury.

● Bands can duplicate a variety of strength training activities, making them perfect for a wide range of fitness training programs.

● Portable and inexpensive: Compared to regular gym equipment, it is lightweight and affordable.

● Rehabilitation: Used in physical therapy to help muscle healing and strength growth.

● Every Fitness Level: Adjustable for both beginners and expert athletes.

Can I use resistance bands every day?

Of course, you can. To protect your muscles from injury, you should generally avoid overtraining. They can be advantageous when included in a well-rounded exercise regimen. Allow enough rest and recovery time for your muscles to avoid injuries and achieve the best outcomes.

Why are resistance bands better than free weights?

The resistance bands are more versatile and can be used in warm-up, workout, and recovery. These are equally beneficial for the results we expect from the free weights and much more, albeit not as effective in some areas. If you’re interested in a versatile strength training session, bands are the one.

Debjit Das

ACSM Certified Personal Trainer

BODYTUNE

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