Pilates rubber bands, also known as Resistance Bands, are probably the most versatile, compact, and quick piece of exercise equipment that can be used and owned. Exercising at the gym, at least for me, tends to focus on free weights, doing three reps of 15-20, and around four different exercises sets. But, with pilates rubber bands, I do about 20 minutes with them and I’m exhausted. This falls into my ideal range, as I like to do short spurt workouts all day, rather than focused into one hour long exercise routine.
They work the muscles in an entirely different way than dumbbells do, in that you’re pulling the rubber apart, rather than fighting against gravity. Dumbbells do provide a lot of freedom when compared to a machine, but the rubbers provide that much more freedom than dumbbells do. On top of this, you’re pulling against your own resistance, so you’re working your muscles in multiple ways at once. In this way they’re more of a defining exercise than a muscular building one.
I find that using the pilates rubbers makes my routine more like that of a yoga routine; I do about 4 or 5 positions for as long as I can in each position, and then take a little break, which I often infuse with some sit-ups (on an exercise ball)! At the end of doing this, which is usually twice, my body is more exhausted than an hour of exercising at the gym. Don’t get me wrong, the gym is a very good exercise, but the pilates rubbers are a different type of exercise. It’s more of an intense but short, full out push, where as the gym for me is usually a focused and steady muscular refinement where I come away feeling my muscles ache, rather than my whole body dead. Maybe you get it or maybe you don’t, but I highly suggest you try and work the rubbers into your routine.
The pilates rubbers can be picked up at most sporting good stores, Wall-Mart or Zellers. Good luck!
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Hi, I like your work out routine with the resistance bands.
Do you have a booklet of different ways to use the bands?
Marc, thanks for stopping by. I don’t have a book of how to use them, but I feel that basically any way you can pull them is a good way: step on them, put them in the door, pull from each arm, pull with a partner, etc. JUST PULL! 🙂
Hi Ned, okay cool.
I just sent you an email.
I am starting up a company that is geared towards fitness and health. The first thing I am selling are high quality resistance bands that people can use for Pilates and workouts and rejuvenation.
I have my own site, but am still putting it together. I wanted to see if I could promote your website on the back of my packaging label of my bands – simply stating “Stay healthy and keep fit. There are many ways of doing this. Go to exerciseandmind.com to see more ways you can keep your body and mind at full capacity.”
What do you think?
Marc