Raise your hand if you dislike going to the gym. Raise your hand if you are even less likely to go to the gym during the summer because you’d rather be outside. There’s no reason to let your fitness commitment go flat this summer. Imagine this scenario. You tie on your super sweet kicks and strap your sweatband on your head. Jog over to the local park or even your favorite backyard maple and hook up the TRX Suspension Training system. This little black bag (weighing in at less than two pounds) is a bundle of creative, fun exercises that will motivate you to move. Voila. Instant total body workout in no time. You can even enjoy the breeze and green grass swaying as you squat. You may catch people gawking like you’re the coolest thing they’ve seen all day. You just might be.

Now it’s not to say this is the only way, a sort of holy grail of workout equipment (although it is the only “strength equipment” I endorse). Plenty of people love their gym membership, and if it keeps them healthy, great. One thing I may challenge is the idea of traditional strength training or machine-driven workouts. Heck, many people go to the gym and end up sitting down through their entire strength circuit, moving from machine to machine for the hour they are “exercising.” These workouts can certainly be effective, sometimes even safer for some, and people even may enjoy them. But what if you want to move through space, explore new territory in your community, and build movement skills, enjoying your workout outside? What a novel concept – fun and functional workouts that torch tons of calories by actually asking you to coordinate your body parts into an integrated whole-self sweat session. Enter TRX Suspension Training.

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Creator Randy Hetrick developed TRX Suspension Training about seven years ago, born of necessity during his time in the Navy SEALS. He developed this tool with his SEAL teammates while stashed away on missions, to stay in peak physical condition in order to do their jobs and come home safely. The first prototype was a few lengths of parachute webbing hand-stitched together with boat repair tools. After extensive research and development, Hetrick started Fitness Anywhere and has since entered the $200 billion physical wellness international market. Necessity is the mother of all invention, and Hetrick has created something huge.

I went to San Francisco last August and got the opportunity to tour the TRX Headquarters, as well as take classes at the TRX Training Center. Arriving early for two back-to-back morning classes meant I missed traffic, and I had a couple hours after to shower up and grab lunch, and enjoy my tour of their offices. It’s a casual, creative place with dogs welcome at work with their active owners. I parted ways as the next class was getting underway. Someone asked if I was crazy when heading back downstairs for my third class. I explained my profession as a fitness educator and TRX fan ... and admitted I’m a little crazy about what I do. I could tell that the entire organization feels passionate about people’s wellbeing, so I was in good company.

One of the TRX mantras is “All core all the time.” Constantly working the body in new positions against the pull of gravity means no slacking when it comes to posture and core stability. In order to do most TRX movements, your core will fire, your feet need to be grounded, and your head is invested fully in the moment. TRX Suspension Training is engaging and fun, and can progress simple exercises like pushups and planks into endless mind-blowing tricks and combinations. Next time you talk to your fitness friends, you can tell them about your wicked handstand pushups or twisted suspended lunges. They will envy you.

Cheri (of Evolve Wellness) recommends working with a professional to learn TRX Suspension Training. Check with your doc before starting any exercise program, and make sure your body’s ready for the fancy stuff. Take your time and be safe.