Resistance Bands & How To Use Them

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Today, my dear friend, J. Michael Festa, has generously shared with us some very good information on using resistance bands.  So, since you all asked...here it is!  Thank you Michael!

You can contact J. Michael directly email; jmichael10021@gmail.com , and you can also follow Michael''s blog, Mind Body Spirit Fitness @www.blogspot.com

Resistance Bands!!
Not everyone can afford gym memberships and personal trainers. Fear not! Fitness is ceratinly not out of reach; there are a number of alternatives. Your desire to become the best you can possibly be is the most important piece of the puzzle!
Resistance bands (or elastic bands) are available at most sporting goods stores and online. They can help you get a great workout at home and offer you the ability to work all the major muscle groups. The easiest way to learn about workouts with resistance bands is to google "resistance band workouts", and you'll have hours of hands on training avalialble to you for free. Personally, I have an I Phone, and there is a great app that I use to structure workouts for my clients, based on their very specific needs and ability.   It's called 'I Fitness' and it's about $3.
Almost any exercise you can do at a gym you can accomplish with resistance bands. The bands come in different resistance capabilities, thus making your workout harder or easier depending on the tensile strength of the bands used. For example, a simple push up becomes more challenging when you hold the end of the bands in either hand (using your body weight to keep the bands in place under your hands), the band should extend across your back, so that as you go through the motion of the push up you've got added resistance from the band. This simple use of resistance doubles the effectiveness of one of the most basic exercises that can be done at home. Do not worry about the number of push ups you can do with the band, you may even want to start with "normal" push ups as a warm-up to your resistance band push up. Try it out and let me know what you think!  Always remember that form is much more important than the number of repetitions you can accomplish.  I would much rather see any of my clients perform three repetitions with perfect form than twenty with poor form.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about working with resistance bands. As with any exercise routine or program, please make sure with a health professional that you are ready for it, and know your limitations. Any routine can be altered to fit every level of fitness. Don't forget, we all start somewhere, so, when are you going to join the race to the better you?
Much love and thank you for letting me be a part of your journey to a healthier you!

Bio:  J. Michael is the owner and founder of Mind Body Spirit Fitness based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. MBS takes a holistic approach to fitness, incorporating all vital aspects of life into the concept of health. Michael has been living with full blown AIDS since 1986, and enjoys a healthy, full, and productive life. MBS and Michael's entire life are based upon his deep belief that only this present moment, the one we are living in right now, is important, and ultimately, all that is real. All we need is within each of us, and in ready reach for anyone who chooses to seek peace and well being. Healing the past and entering the future through the present moment are what takes MBS Fitness a leap beyond other fitness programs and routines.