Resistance BAND EXERCISES For Legs

Resistance bands come in a vast array of shapes, sizes, tension levels and colors.

- Charlene Bazarian

Compact, portable, and reasonably priced, they can be a great addition to your strength training workouts. Whether you are a beginner or a more experienced fitness enthusiast, incorporating resistance bands into your workouts can help you increase tension in the best possible way!

explains Elliott Upton, NASM certified personal trainer, head of the online training at Ultimate Performance, a global group of personal training facilities.

Currently the gym manager at Ultimate Performance Marbella gym, Upton is also the presenter and creator of the world famous LiveUp Transformation Program.

To begin with, it is important to understand how an equipment or tool works and, of course, how best to use them to maximize their effectiveness.

"The further a band stretches, the heavier the movement gets, and when done correctly,"

Upton explains that "bands provide resistance by increasing tension where the muscle is strongest, therefore accommodating the muscle's natural curve of force production."

Recently, resistance bands have surged in popularity and Upton credits this with their low cost combined with the convenience and portability factors. If you're traveling, training at home or simply don't have access to a gym, Elliott says that a "good set of resistance bands will allow you to burn calories and get in a great workout." I asked Upton to share a quick and effective band workout and here's what he had to say: "When you are limited to a single piece of equipment, the number one rule is to use the biggest bang for your buck' exercises possible. In the instance of resistance bands, these are our major compound lifts that use the most muscle rep for rep and thus burn the most calories.