TRX Suspension Training

Has anybody done this? I'm looking at a suspension system called a Jungle Gym that is similar to TRX but doesn't join in the middle so you can move each handle out. I'm trying to find something different that uses more muscle groups & falls into "functional" training - rather than bicep curls with dumbbells. Also, it is very portable, can be used at home or on the road, or in a park when the weather is nice.

I thought we had talked about this but did a search & found nothing - so apologies if I'm repeating a thread.

I remember a thread on this, perhaps in Other Sports? I seem to remember some discussion on how to build your own, but I might be confusing this forum with the one at Mark's Daily Apple. I've considered either a TRX or a Bosu for home, I really don't have room for either so I've not pulled the trigger either way.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ght=jungle+gym

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ght=jungle+gym

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OakLeaf - thanks!! I think I'm going to order the jungle gym. I'm a gym rat at heart but this is a hard time of year to go to the gym. So many new people coupled with colds & flu going around. I was in the locker room with a lady who was seriously sick but determined to keep that new year's resolution.:rolleyes:

I own a Jungle Gym, and although the customer service is absolutely the worse of all of the big comapnies; they are the best quality straps. I bought a set for myself last July and can attest that suspension training is quick and can be very beneficial. I actually teach a couple of different suspension straps classes throughout the week and have seen a big difference with clients.

Good luck in your training!!

My trainer has some straps set up that we use some time for suspension training. Some of it is really hard. I like it just as another way to mix it up and keep workouts from getting too repetitive. I'd get bored if we did the same thing every week.

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Originally Posted by Kernyl

My trainer has some straps set up that we use some time for suspension training. Some of it is really hard. I like it just as another way to mix it up and keep workouts from getting too repetitive. I'd get bored if we did the same thing every week.

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Just did this this morning. I was embarrassed on how hard some really simple core exercises were for me. I guess that's why I need them, but still......

We did two TRX things today. The first had me also wearing a 20 pound weight vest. Holding the straps do a deep squat and when you come up, jump. Do in rapid succession.

The second was one legged burpees with one foot in the strap.

Veronica

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Originally Posted by Veronica

We did two TRX things today. The first had me also wearing a 20 pound weight vest. Holding the straps do a deep squat and when you come up, jump. Do in rapid succession.

The second was one legged burpees with one foot in the strap.

Veronica

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Veronica, are you comfortable with that second one? My body just rebels when I try that and I think it is because I am a bit nervous to really commit myself to the movement.

Yes, I'm pretty comfortable with it, but I think I have really good balance.

Shawna has been incorporating balance stuff since day 1 and it just gets more interesting.

Veronica

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Originally Posted by Veronica

Yes, I'm pretty comfortable with it, but I think I have really good balance.

Shawna has been incorporating balance stuff since day 1 and it just gets more interesting.

Veronica

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It depends on what it is where balance is concerned for me. Pistol squats are a problem for me, but I can easily do single-leg RDLS or rows - but of course those are quite different movements.

I bought the Jungle Gym - basically a TRX that isn't joined in the middle. It's awesome & kicking my butt. I consider myself pretty strong - I've been lifting weights seriously for 15 years. Body weight training that makes you use all of the muscles is really hard. You can easily set up metabolic training on this. Add in a jump rope & you never have to go to a gym again!

I've been using it attached to a door and it doesn't make ANY marks at all. The straps adjust easily. They are plenty long enough. The handle/foot cradles are soft plastic. The foot cradles are super easy to get in & out of. I bought it through Amazon because I wanted it quickly, as I'm going to San Fran for a dog obedience conference. Also, there is a lot of flu going around and I've witnessed a ton of people hacking, coughing and still working out.

I can't wait to get it outside - it was 18 degrees this morning (seriously? In AZ??) so it may be a few days. But so far, I love it. There a lots of u-tube videos demonstrating different exercises. The set comes with a DVD and instructions as well. I highly recommend it.

Dogmama - are you still liking your Jungle Gym? I am moving this fall and am strongly considering this as I will have an actual "fitness room" in my new apartment :)

I do still like it. It's a lot less expensive than the TRX and I think it has better features. You can separate the ropes whereas the TRX is attached in the middle. The foot cradles are easy to get it & out of & they easily double as hand holds. I've had it in my patio in the desert heat & it is still as good as new!

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Originally Posted by Dogmama

I do still like it. It's a lot less expensive than the TRX and I think it has better features. You can separate the ropes whereas the TRX is attached in the middle. The foot cradles are easy to get it & out of & they easily double as hand holds. I've had it in my patio in the desert heat & it is still as good as new!

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This is good to know, thanks! I don't have enough room in my current apartment, but my new one WILL have enough room.

Dogmama, or anyone else who has the Jungle Gym XT. The website, and the company (I called them) strongly recommends that this only be used on a door that opens away from you. Have you found that this matters? I've spoken with the company who makes the TRX and they do not have the same requirement - they focus more on making certain no one opens the door while you are using it (obvious).

I saw my new apartment yesterday - I wish that I had waited until they resurfaced the kitchen counters but that is another story. The way the door/closet is designed in the room that I will use for such activities, I will actually need to use it in the hallway rather than in the room itself. Unless, that is, I can figure out how to attach it on a sliding closet door - though my guess is the sliding door wouldn't be strong enough.

on the "strong enough" comment- the facility director at our Y made a huge deal about "no, we can't put the trx cables there".... (were we wanted them) because there was no supporting beam.....though 8 sets is a different load than one..be careful!

They probably want the added reinforcement of the door frame to hold the Jungle Gym. Because you're putting yourself in some really dangerous positions if it fails - I would tend to agree with them.

I've not yet made my mind up, but I don't have room in my current apartment for either suspension system. I will probably get the Jungle Gym for the price, and the way my new apartment is laid out I will either be in my hallway between the bedrooms.

Thanks for the input!

I own the Jungle Gym XT and have it installed via bike hooks, and have used it that way for well over a year. Although I would say that you could also use their wall mounted unit as well. I also teach a suspension straps class, and I had a bar installed so that it is actually tied into the roofing supports. You can certainly use either system on a door, but you tend to lose alot of steeper angles when you start to progress... and with your background with lifting I would defintiely think you would want that. Is there any chance that you could install a pull up bar other than as a door mount and attach straps to that?

I would love to do that, but I don't think my apartment manager would approve...however it IS worth asking! I will be moving into an upstairs apartment - top floor- so there would certainly be enough roofing supports available.

I do have my eye on a pair of steel Kettlebells :D Probably not until next year though as they are not cheap. just something for swings and squats.

Now you lovely ladies have me thinking about installing a pullup bar in my new apartment. I checked, and I CAN install something on the wall but not the ceiling. Something like this would fit me well, and the combined cost of the Jungle Gym XT plus the rig wouldn't cost much more than the TRX! Nothing happens until after I move though ;) I suspect there are likely less expensive pullup rigs out there, though this one looks solid. I've plenty of time to look and I do not think I want to use a "doorway pullup bar" for this.

A suspension system, pull-up rig, and a couple of steel kettlebells, and, in the winter, my bike on the trainer would give me all I could possibly want for home use. This is something to develop over time, and it is possible I could even find something at a Goodwill store... It is probably good I am a renter and don't have a garage, it would be nice to play with heavy weights at home. This could get REAL expensive, but thankfully I only have a small bedroom in a second floor apartment for this - and a fantastic gym to carry out most of my 'gym rat' activities :)

Your idea of workout equipment is what I have set up in the shop. The ceilings are quite high, 9 feet+, so the pullup bar and straps are easily out of the way while open... but gives me plenty of opportunity during other times. Although I'm sure that you have put alot of thought into this, there are lots of flexibililty/mobility movements you could do with the straps... perhaps it might help your shoulder?

Good luck in your move; sounds like you might just have teh perfect place to work out!:)

Yes, I've already thought about mobility work...I also do some banded distraction to help joint capsule mobility.

My Chiro tells me that 1/2 and full Turkish Getups will do wonders for my shoulder and general t-spine mobility... with or without a kettlebell. Today I was able to do the 1/2 version in group and my shoulder felt more stable than it has in years :D Obviously I use a very light weight for that, nothing close to what I use for KB swings and squats.

That's a good report!! Any decisions made about suspension straps yet?:)

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Originally Posted by ridebikeme

That's a good report!! Any decisions made about suspension straps yet?:)

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Not until after I move in a bit over a month, but it will likely be the Jungle Gym XT, for price more than anything. I do like the foot cradle and have read the handles last longer.

I received my Jungle Gym yesterday and I think that it is going to work out great! I'm uncomfortable using the door anchors, my interior doors are not...robust. Wall stud anchors are available for a very reasonable cost that are each rated for 300 pounds. I will be ordering them next week.

I really like the straps aren't connected. I played with them today and noted they don't scrape my arms in some exercises like the actual TRX does. I am glad I went for this less expensive alternative and I think it will serve me for a very long time.

I think the Jungle Gym, a couple of kettlebells and a long resistance band will prettu much cover everything I need. I already have a lighter KB, eventually will get a heavier one for swings.

I love my Jungle Gym for exactly the reasons you said. Plus the foot/hand cradles are easy to use. I'm going to be getting a KB & have a heavy resistance band. I agree - that's pretty much the set up that anybody needs.

I considered a pullup bar to anchor the straps but I don't know that my shoulder will ever allow a proper pullup. I can with the largest of the resistance bands but my shoulder still can't rotate properly. The wall anchor is much less. I will reconsider if things change.

Catrin,
Do you have an unfinished basement of garage? You can also buy a metal pipe and install that within the floor joists/ceilings joists. It's very stable if done correctly, and quite inexpensive.

Have fun with your new straps:)

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Originally Posted by ridebikeme

Catrin,
Do you have an unfinished basement of garage? You can also buy a metal pipe and install that within the floor joists/ceilings joists. It's very stable if done correctly, and quite inexpensive.

Have fun with your new straps:)

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I've a second floor apartment, so sadly that isn't an option. Thankfully they have no problem with my installing wall stud anchors. They aren't that inexpensive, but each anchor is rated for 300 lbs - so considering I weigh 124 I think they will work :) I am having a handyman friend of mine install them so I don't wind up messing up the wall.

Another option would be to install the wall mounts in a ceiling; it would give you more angles to work with in terms of using your bodyweight. I have a set of the wall mounts as well, and at some plan to moun them to the ceiling.

Have fun with the straps!!

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Originally Posted by ridebikeme

Another option would be to install the wall mounts in a ceiling; it would give you more angles to work with in terms of using your bodyweight. I have a set of the wall mounts as well, and at some plan to moun them to the ceiling.

Have fun with the straps!!

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My apartment complex wouldn't allow a ceiling mount - I asked. I think as long as they were properly installed it would have been fine but I didn't want to have problems with my lease. Let me know when you do the ceiling mount and how you like it. It certainly takes the wall out of the equation - it can't get in the way regardless of what you do. The straps seem rather longer than TRX straps to me, though I could be mistaken.

My straps do actually hang from the ceiling now, and have always been there.

I'll be anxious to hear what you think of your straps once you get into a routine of using them. There certainly are TONS that you can do with them:)

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Originally Posted by ridebikeme

My straps do actually hang from the ceiling now, and have always been there.

I'll be anxious to hear what you think of your straps once you get into a routine of using them. There certainly are TONS that you can do with them:)

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We do a lot with the TRX in my group training - so am already accustomed to working with them. The wall is simply in the way right now as the only doors sturdy enough to work with are next to a wall to the side (and on two sides for one), so I really need the wall anchors to do any real work with them.

Well, as you know there are no limits to what you can do with the straps, so have fun using some of th methods that you are already accustomed to... AND coming up with others that suit your workouts at home:)

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Originally Posted by ridebikeme

Well, as you know there are no limits to what you can do with the straps, so have fun using some of th methods that you are already accustomed to... AND coming up with others that suit your workouts at home:)

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Where is the "love" button? :) I do like to mix up the straps with squat matrices and KB work - it will be nice when I can afford to add a KB of appropriate swinging weight. I currently only have a 22 lb which is really too light for either swings or goblet squats - but it is certainly far better than nothing! I just want one heavier steel KB, won't need more than that.

I know the floor creaks, so to keep my downstairs neighbor happy...no burpees!

Ahh the dreaded burpees HA! I'm in the same boat as you, the KB that I have is lighter as well, so will be looking to add a bit heavier one as well. I also want to add a BOSU ball to the inventory, always great for some balance/stability work and then add the straps into that mix as well.