Search results matching tags 'TRX Suspension Trainer' and 'personal training business'

The TRX in Action at Bootcamp

Fitness Anywhere — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:19:00 GMT

In the last post, elite trainer Corey Belin shared how he discovered the TRX and how it became an integral component of his bootcamp fitness classes. But what does it look like in practice? To answer this question, Belin gives us a glimpse at two workouts he’s put together for his students.

During week one, Belin has the students repeat the following sequence of TRX exercises to warm up during the first five minutes of class:

Jumping jacks
Side lunges
Stepovers

Next they move on to a more challenging sequence:

Squats or Single Leg Squats
Bicep Curls
Rows

“Then we’ll repeat the process back over and do it for about four minutes. Then I’ll have them change positions and...go to some ground work on the TRX with their feet in the cradles.”

During the first week of class, students quickly master the basic principles of progression on the TRX and learn how to make exercises easier or more difficult as well as proper form and technique. They also learn how to configure the TRX in single handle mode, and how to utilize the foot cradles for movements that require them.

“Once they see how the TRX works, it all makes sense and they learn how to use it fast,” says Belin. “The whole point is to keep moving, keep moving, keep moving! By the fourth week, they’ve already pre-learned all of the exercises, and I keep them moving nonstop for 30 minutes.”

Here’s a sample of the paces Belin puts his students through on the TRX during the final week of his course:

Jumping Jacks
Side Lunges
Step Overs
Pushups-Rows-Biceps Curls
Pushups-Rows-Triceps extensions
Pushups-Rows-Triceps extensions-squats

“I just keep adding on more exercises to the sequence and keep having them repeat it until 30 minutes have gone by.”

It’s a grueling, functional workout unlike any his students have experienced before. And to Belin, that makes the TRX a more than worthy addition to his courses. “It’s an amazing piece of equipment.”

When you’re ready to take your bootcamp classes to the next level, the TRX is here to make it happen!

Until next time, FA

Bootcamp Courses & the TRX: A Case Study

Fitness Anywhere — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:13:00 GMT

Now that we’ve taken a look at why the TRX is so ideally suited for bootcamp classes, let’s take a look at how one trainer has successfully incorporated the TRX into his bootcamp business model. Corey Belin, NASM-CPT, owner of Belin Sports and Fitness in Washington, DC.

A former college athlete, Belin has been a trainer for four years. “Our objective is to make exercising fun and to help everyone obtain the results their unable to reach on their own,” he says. Like many of us, Belin used to rely primarily on weights for his own training. Then one day he walked into the gym where he was working at the time and saw another trainer using the TRX.

“I saw him using it and thought, no way, this can’t be hard. Then I got on the TRX and did bicep curls. My biceps were swollen like I’d been curling 45-pound plates.” He became a convert. “The TRX allows me to cheat on workouts. Instead of working out for an hour, I can workout for 20 or 30 minutes, and I’m done.”

His experience led him to incorporate the TRX into his renowned bootcamp courses. At first, he just dipped a toe in the water, adding four TRX’s to a course. “Some people were scared, some people weren’t used to how it felt. But I explained to them, the more the body keeps guessing, the more results you’ll get.

“It amped up workouts, but most importantly for me is that I try to make every camp as different as possible. The TRX allows me to add major pressure. Curling 5 pound weights, after a while you have to curl for twenty minutes to get a workout. With the TRX, people can always have exactly the level of resistance they need.”

Sometimes it can be difficult for trainees to master movements on new exercise apparatuses, but Belin didn’t experience any problems beyond his class’ initial reticence to try something new when he introduced the TRX into his classes. “I explained to everyone how to increase resistance—if it’s too much walk away from the anchor. If it’s not enough, walk towards the anchor. It’s that simple.”

They got it, and the class enjoyed the constant challenge of progressing exercises or trying entirely new movements they’d never experienced before. Belin added more TRX’s to the next bootcamp he taught, and now he has TRX’s for every student in his class.

Belin has found that using the TRX has advantages beyond providing his students with a great workout. “Number one, I like it because it gives my classes something different to do. Number two, I’m one of the few bootcamps to incorporate equipment and exercises besides bodyweight exercises and calisthenics. I haven’t seen another bootcamp in DC using the TRX.”

Incorporating the TRX into his classes has given Belin a unique marketing angle. “When people see us using the TRX, it turns heads. They want to know what we’re doing, because they’ve never seen anything like it before. When cars drive by, they literally slow down to see what the heck you’re doing. ”

In the near future, Belin has a plan to draw even more attention to the use of the TRX in his classes. “We do our classes at 6 a.m., not 5 in the afternoon, so most people don’t see what’s going on. I want to take it out in the middle of a traffic island and set it up during rush hour so people can really see what we’re doing. Using the TRX really sets us apart.”

Next time, Belin will share some of his training tips. Until then! FA

TRX for Bootcamp: The Perfect Combination

Fitness Anywhere — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Bootcamp fitness classes borrow from the military’s tradition of whipping fresh-off-the-bus recruits into shape using circuits of simple bodyweight exercises and high intensity cardio that give participants a grueling metabolic conditioning workout. If you’ve used the Fitness Anywhere Military Program or All Body Xpress you’re already familiar with this style of training—performing timed intervals of an exercise followed by brief periods of rest or active recovery before jumping right back in and hitting it hard again.

Like all metabolic conditioning, bootcamps are an excellent way to melt fat and build functional strength and conditioning; but any bootcamp class can be made even better with the addition of the TRX!

Bootcamps usually meet in outdoor locations ranging from parks to parking lots, trainers don’t have the luxury of choosing from an entire gym full of equipment when programming their workouts. Every extra piece of equipment a trainer adds to a bootcamp class must be transported to the location, set up, and stored somewhere in between classes. It all needs to fit in the trainers’ vehicle, too.

The TRX makes it easy for trainers to provide their classes with a complete and challenging workout.

In the next post, we’ll take a look at some of the advantages of using the TRX for bootcamp training.

Until then! FA

Affiliate Spotlight - Georgette Panns talks boot camps

Fitness Anywhere — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:37:01 GMT

Georgette Pann is the creator of the Sure Victory Boot Camp Kit and a Fitness Anywhere Affiliate. Here Georgette shares her success with the TRX in boot camps and how she uses this to increase affiliate sales.

How long have you been in the fitness industry / boot camp focus?
I have been in the industry close to 15 years and the boot camp focus took off about 4 years ago when I simultaneously opened my NutriFitness PT Studio.
Why do you see a good fit between the TRX and boot camps?
The TRX originally caught my attention when I was looking for a solution for my outdoor boot camps that would be challenging to boot campers. I also was looking for a way to adequately target the upper back in my outdoor camps. But the TRX actually has provided much more than this! We now use the TRX not only for all our boot camps (indoor and outdoor) but also with our private PT clients.
How have you been able to incorporate the TRX into boot camps?
As I started to mention, all our camps make use of the TRX as it provides numerous variations of exercises using bodyweight. It allows us ,as instructors, to design a boot camp programs that are not only challenging and fun but are designed to get client results.We incorporate the TRX into circuits or stations as to eliminate waiting and add intensity to our camps.

What's the response been from your boot camp clients?

Boot camp clients love the TRX! They are intrigued when they first see it and they can't wait to see what else they can do with it. It adds the element of good competitive fun to the boot camps.

How do you feature the affiliate program to your boot camp market?

As creator of the Sure Victory Boot Camp Kit, I primarily market to boot camp trainers. Through my website, newsletter and private coaching, I recommend the TRX to all my boot camp kit trainers. I also set up a separate web page to showcase the TRX and offer special incentives when available.

Do you have any tips for others in finding success as an affiliate?

I have actually had good results with the TRX with my own clients and boot camp trainers...recommending a product that I believe in, such as the TRX, allows me to offer a sincere, credible recommendation. I also make use of video, affiliate web pages and exercise/workouts that are specific to my target market, which is outdoor/indoor fitness boot camps.

Check out Georgette’s website at www.thefitnessbootcamp.com.

Re: Incorporating the TRX in bootcamp

Fraser — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:30:02 GMT

This is a great workout and I'll bet your participants are having fun and seeing some great results!

There are 100s of ways to organize boot camp classes and exercises that may or may not be appropriate for your group depending on their ability.

Without breaking from your format you could add variations of the row (high, 45 degree and single hand).

Think about doing a variety of jacks. I'm assuming you are doing the standard out of synch frontal plane jacks with both arms and legs. There are tons of variations to this both using the planes of motion and separating upper and lower body action i.e. s-plane, out of synch lower body with rotational in synch upper body. Be imaginative as each combination is a different exercise demanding different integration.

Try the TRX balance lunge variations for legs (straight back, crossing & abducted) and if they can do it progress to TRX single leg squats or suspended lunges.

The triceps dip on a bench could be alternated with the TRX Preacher Triceps Press which flows very well into the TRX kneeling rollout.

Most people even with only moderate fitness can perform a low amplitude suspended pendulum which might be a good way to bridge the gap from your assisted roll up to the suspended crunch.

Some other suggestions might be to time your sets if you aren't already and to combine 2 to 4 strength based exercises with some short challenging cardiovascular work.

Finally people love interaction in boot camp settings. Be sure to utilize cooperative and competitive tasks and challenges in your classes. It will keep your participants motivated and having fun!

Incorporating the TRX in bootcamp

Kimmers — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:36:18 GMT

I own an outdoor fitness program geared mostly at older women. I run the class in a circuit style format and the TRX works in great as an additional station. With 4 TRXs, a couple of yoga mats and jump ropes I can easily set up a 15 station circuit and make sure everyone gets a total body strength, cardio and flexibility workout. I have also used the TRXs for small outdoor group training. My bootcamp ranges from 10 to 15 people in the mornings and by keeping all of the stations near each other, it is easy to keep an eye on everyone.

Here is a sample:

Station 1: TRX Low Row
Station 2: Jump Rope
Station 3: TRX Chest Press
Station 4: Jumping Jacks
Station 5: Single Leg Touch Downs
Station 6: Tricep Dips on Bench
Station 7: TRX Bicep Curls
Station 8:Walking Lunge
Station 9: Jogging/walking station
Station 10: TRX Suspended Crunch/Assisted Roll up (depends on user)

45 seconds at each station and they go through twice. With a warm-up and cool down. This is a great format to run a class. Anyone have any other ideas?