TRX Pistol Squat

Hello again, it’s time for a new Home Exercise of the Week.  The exercise this week is a very challenging one that is done with a TRX suspension trainer.  It’s called the TRX Pistol Squat.  

The TRX in this exercise is mainly used to help maintain balance throughout the movement so if you don’t have one you can try doing the exercise without it, although it is much more difficult.  In this case I recommend standing close to something you can hold on to for support and balance like a squat rack or even a chair.  However, please do so with caution.

Let’s look at the muscles worked, benefits, and how to do the TRX Pistol Squat properly.

The TRX Pistol Squat is going to target your quadriceps, core muscles, glutes, and ankle stabilizers. 

By doing this exercise you’re going to:

  • improve your balance and coordination
  • build more unilateral strength – the strength of one limb versus the other (by doing unilateral movements you will help to correct any imbalances that may have occurred from doing regular squats)
  • have greater joint integrity and movement
  • enhance muscular activation

Here are the key points to doing the TRX Pistol Squat correctly:

  • grab the TRX handles and stand far enough back from the anchor point until your arms are almost fully extended
  • raise one foot off the ground and extend in front of you
  • firmly plant your other foot on the ground and place your body weight on to your heel
  • squat down while continuing to put your weight on to the heel
  • keep your back straight and push your hips back while squatting (like you’re going to sit down on to a chair)
  • keep your knee from extending past your toes as you squat down
  • lower your body until your butt almost touches the ground
  • from this bottom position push through your heel to raise yourself back up to the starting position
  • as you push up make sure to keep your knee and foot aligned and facing forward
  • use the TRX to help keep you aligned, balanced, and as a tool to help pull yourself back up as needed 

So there you have the TRX Pistol Squat.  It’s a very hard exercise but the benefits are great.

Give it a try and let me know how you do in the comments below.

See you next week with another new exercise!

Medicine Ball Cross Body Mountain Climber

Hey there, it’s a new week and that means it’s time for a new exercise!  The Home Exercise of the Week this time is another core exercise called Medicine Ball Cross Body Mountain Climber.

With this exercise you will be targeting your abdominal muscles, especially your obliques, as well as your chest, shoulders, triceps, hip flexors, and lower back.  The added instability of planking on the medicine ball while doing the mountain climber further engages your core muscles and stabilizers, making it quite challenging.

Here are the key points to doing the Medicine Ball Cross Body Mountain Climber properly:

  • start in a plank position with your hands on the medicine ball
  • make sure the ball is directly underneath your chest
  • engage your abdominals and keep tight throughout the movement
  • from the full plank position, drive your right knee towards your left elbow giving your abs a really good flex
  • return to the starting position and then drive your left knee towards your right elbow
  • repeat until you have finished your set

So there you have the Medicine Ball Cross Body Mountain Climber.  Take it slow at first until you feel comfortable balancing yourself on the ball.  Once you get the hang of it you can try increasing your rep speed to add a cardiovascular component.

If you like this exercise leave a comment below.  I’d love to hear what you think.

Happy climbing!

Leg Tabatas

Hey everyone!  I have a new Home Workout of the Week for you to do.  This time we are going to blast your legs.  Prepare yourself for this intense Leg Tabata Workout!  Your legs will be on fire but it’s definitely worth it.

Do what you can in the allotted time and build up your intensity.  Form is very important here to protect your knees and back and for the best results so make sure you practice the moves first before attempting the routine.

Have fun and let me know how you do!

Leg Tabata Workout

Tabata Protocol – 20 seconds of as many reps as you can do followed by 10 seconds of rest; 4 rounds of each pair of exercises followed by a 1 minute rest before moving on to the next pair of exercises

Warm-Up

  • 12 Body weight Squats
  • 12 Spiderman Climbs
  • 30 seconds of Jumping Jacks

Tabata 1

Tabata 2

Tabata 3

Tabata 4

Back, Bicep, and Core Workout

Hey everyone!  It’s Home Exercise of the Week time and I have the third part here for you of the three part split routine.  This week we are going to do the Back, Bicep, and Core Workout.  This routine is going to get your arms looking strong and toned and is going to strengthen the ever important muscles of the back.  Strong back and core muscles help prevent back problems as you age and especially if you spend many hours at a desk job, not to mention how great a strong back looks!

This Back, Bicep, and Core Workout does have some dumbbell exercises in them so if you have a set that’s great but if not then grab some stuff around the house that you can lift and curl like heavy soup cans, water bottles, pets, children, etc! 😉

Have fun, work hard, sweat a lot, and be awesome!

Back, Bicep, and Core Workout

Warm-Up

  • 10 Pushups
  • 12 Spiderman Climbs
  • 10 Spinal Rotations for each side
  • 10 Shoulder Circles for each arm

Superset 1

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Superset 2

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Superset 3

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Chest, Tricep, and Core Workout

Hey there!  It’s time for another Home Workout of the Week and this week I have part two of a three part split routine.  This workout is going to focus on the muscles of your chest, triceps, and again your abdominals.  A strong upper body is important in your daily activities to help you lift things and move about more easily not to mention the great looking body that strong, toned muscles will create!

This Chest, Tricep, and Core Workout is quite challenging and very heavy on pushups so take your time and modify the pushups if needed by doing them from your knees.  A thorough warm-up of the shoulder girdle is definitely needed to avoid injury so please make sure you don’t neglect your warm-up.

Do this routine once per week along with the Leg, Shoulder, and Core Workout and the upcoming Back, Bicep, and Core Workout.

Chest, Tricep, and Core Workout

Warm-Up

  • 10 Pushups
  • 12 Spiderman Climbs
  • 10 Spinal Rotations for each side
  • 10 Shoulder Circles for each arm

Superset 1

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Superset 2

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times

Superset 3

Rest for 30 to 60 seconds then repeat the superset 2 more times