How to use resistance bands at home

What are resistance bands?

Resistance bands are made out of a durable rubber or plastic material that can be either not stretchy at all or very stretchy, depending on the resistance level. The material snaps back in place after you let go and doesn’t rip, provided you invested into good quality bands. 

Resistance bands are super compact and can be an awesome addition to even the smallest of home gyms! They are incredibly versatile and can supercharge your workouts, whether you are using free weights, a machine, or only body weight. Resistance bands come in a variety of resistance levels so you can adjust your workout. 

Resistance band workouts

Resistance bands are super versatile and are awesome for abs/core workouts, glutes & legs workouts, upper back and shoulders workouts, and arm workouts. You can use them for glute workouts using just bodyweight, squat workouts using freeweights, and attach them to a machine for pulling and pressing exercises!

Different types of resistance bands

• Power resistance bands (also called loop bands) are one continuous flat loop. Great for bodyweight exercises like squats, these bands can withstand up to 175lbs of resistance. You can also pair power resistance bands with freeweight exercises for added resistance and even anchor them to a bar to do pulling and pushing exercises. Loop bands are awesome for muscle strength, explosivity, and protecting the joints.

• Resistance bands with handles have grips on one end and loops on the other so you can easily mimic dumbbell exercises at home by anchoring the bands on a door or a bar. Best for pressing and pulling, you can do back rows, curls, and chest presses with tube resistance bands. 

• Figure 8 bands have handles on both sides and you can stretch them as far as you want for upper and lower body exercises. These offer a lower amount of resistance and are best suited for physical therapy and rehabilitation. You can also use them to mimic dumbbell exercises and get great results!