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Smart Straps Body Weight Training are the All-in-One Workout

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Take body weight training to a whole new level with Smart Straps! This all-in-one functional fitness training system allows you to train smarter by recruiting more muscles for stabilization. Try performing a Bridge with your feet in the Smart Straps cuffs and you’ll instantly feel what we mean. Hello glutes and hamstrings!

Three Reasons to Try Body Weight Training using our SMART Straps

  1. Amplified your regular body weight exercises
  2. Accommodates people of all fitness levels –from novices to elite athletes
  3. Easy to use and completely portable so you can take your workout anywhere!

Amplified your regular body weight exercises

Smart Straps are used in 4 basic ways: (1) Pulling, (2) Pressing, (3) Feet in Cuffs Facing Down (Prone), and (4) Feet in Cuffs Facing Up (Supine).

The versatility of these 4 basic movements allows to increase the challenge of any body weight exercise. Don’t be fooled by the simple appearance of a strap-based body weight training system. This amplified version of your regular body weight moves can make for an incredibly challenging workout. Notice how much more you need to engage your core to maintain stability when performing exercises with Smart Straps!

Accommodates people of all fitness levels –from novices to elite athletes

On top of recruiting more muscles, Smart Straps are easy to modify to your fitness levels!  You are in control of the range of motion, and you can easily modify the work up or down based on your training level.

Simply adjust the angle you are preforming the exercise to increase to decrease the amount of body weight you are working against!  For example, when preforming a Push Up on your Smart Straps if the exercise is too difficult, move your feet closer to the Smart Straps.  If the push ups are too easy, move your feet further away!

Smart Straps are easy to use and completely portable

Just like all Prism Fitness Smart products, the Smart Straps have exercises printed directly on the surface, so you are never left wondering “what to do.”

Smart Straps are Easy to Anchor and Adjust!

Each Smart Strap has a door anchor so you can loop and secure the strap around a bar (e.g., chin up bar). Use the straps at home or while traveling by closing the anchors in a sturdy door. Be sure to set up so the door opens away from you.

How to Hang Smart Straps from a Door

How to Hang Smart Straps from a Bar

Once anchored, adjust the length of the straps to best suit your proportions and the exercise. You can also adjust the anchor width to make exercises more or less challenging.

Adjustable straps let you easily cater to your own proportions and exercise needs. You can also change the width to make exercises more or less challenging. Set them wider for greater stability or narrower to make exercises more difficult.

How to Adjust Smart Strap Length

If you want to provide extra challenge for the core muscles, use the Strap Connector to join both straps together. Rather than securing each individual strap to a bar or door, simply wrap the connector around a sturdy object like playground equipment, strong tree branch, or a chin up bar. Without the stability of the individual strap anchor, you need to engage the core even more to maintain control during each exercise.

Add Smart Straps to your home gym to take functional fitness to new heights! This simple body weight training system takes versatility to a whole new level! Create a circuit of upper body, lower body, and cardio for a well-rounded workout session.

Smart Straps Body Weight Training Workout

CORE & UPPER BODY WEIGHT TRAINING EXERCISES WITH SMART STRAPS

  • 60-degree Pullup
  • 60-degree Pushup
  • Forward Arm Raise
  • Pike-up
  • Knee Tucks
  • L-Sit (Butt tuck)
  • Pull Up
  • Chest Fly

LOWER BODY WEIGHT TRAINING EXERCISES WITH SMART STRAPS

  • Bridge
  • Single Leg Squat
  • Hamstring Curls
  • Skater Lunge

CARDIO BODY WEIGHT TRAINING EXERCISES WITH SMART STRAPS

Perform with correct form as quickly as possible

  • Jump Rope
  • Jumping Jacks
  • Smart Medicine Ball Squat with Overhead Press
  • Backward Stepping Lunges
  • High Knees
  • Agility Ladders
  • Jump Squats

Create a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workout by alternating high intensity work with rest or active recovery.

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Check Out Our Favorite Posts

  • Get Moving Again with a Stretch Session
  • The Benefits of Resistance Bands Over Free Weights
  • Why using the SMART Core Wheel Will Get You Functionally Fit in 2021
  • Smart Straps Body Weight Training are the All-in-One Workout
  • Plan Your Wellness Goals for 2021

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Learn about the latest fitness tips and products from our Fitness Experts!

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Learn about the latest fitness tips and products from our Fitness Experts!

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    Smart Deluxe Cable Kit

    $89.99
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    Smart Mobility & Recovery Training Bundle

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Filed Under: Bodyweight Training, Functional Fitness, High Intensity Interval Training, Workouts Tagged With: at-home workout, body weight training, Functional Fitness, functional fitness training, Smart Straps, Suspension Training, workout

5 Exercises to do instead of Squats

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Squats Alternative

 

5 Exercises to do instead of Squats

The simple squat is a powerful movement and a favorite among fitness fanatics for a good reason: they work. Squats move the muscles of your lower body (quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, hips, and calves) in unison, and that can translate to real-world strength. Squats also work on hip mobility, which is important in executing daily activities such as getting up from your chair, walking the stairs, or bending to pick up an object. Knee, hip, or back injuries can sometimes make squatting uncomfortable or even painful, but there are alternatives to help you build on your leg strength and still work the major muscles you’re trying to target. Focusing on your lower body (whether it’s squats or squat alternatives) can support increases in your lean muscle mass, which can elevate your resting metabolism and increase your calorie burn outside of your workout.

 

Equipment Needed:

  • Smart Medicine Ball
  • Smart Stability Ball
  • Smart Sleeved Tubing

 

Five Squat Alternatives

Perform three or four sets of 10 to 15 reps for each exercise. Rest 30 to 45 seconds between sets.

1. Glute Bridge Roll Out with SMART Stability Ball

The how-to:  Lie on your back with your knees bent, heels on the ball. Slowly roll the ball away from you while keeping your pelvis elevated and spine aligned. Roll back to start. Repeat

The why:  Glute bridges target the glutes without placing any weight on your knees.

 

2. Romanian Deadlift with SMART Sleeved Tubing

The how-to: Place your feet shoulder-width apart and have the band beneath between the heel and arch. Hold the band snug in an overhand grip, knuckles out, hips back, slight bend in the knee, and maintain a flat back. Lift, contracting your glutes, and push them forward. Pause, then slowly release and smoothly return to start.

The why: The hip hinge motion provides less pressure on the knees while still targeting your glutes.

 

3. SMART Medicine Ball Swing

The how-to: Place your feet shoulder-width apart and have the ball between your legs, knees slightly bent. Lean forward and push your hips back without bending your back or knees. With weight in the heels, move your hips forward and swing the ball in front of the body, chest height. Keep in mind that the movement comes from the hips, not your upper body. Slowly return and repeat.

The why: This is a dynamic version of a hip hinge motion that produces added power over a Romanian Deadlift and an even bigger glute workout.

 

4. Lateral Walk with SMART Sleeved Tubing

The how-to:  Hold the tubing in your hand about shoulder height and keep it snug as you put the other end of the tubing underneath your feet. Keeping your legs shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and your core braced, step your right foot out to the side and then follow with your left. Then, step to the side with your left and let your right follow. Repeat.

The why:  This is a great way to activate the glutes and work on proper form while moving your hips, knees, and feet in unison.

 

5. Reverse Lunge with SMART Medicine Ball

The how-to:  With your feet hip-width apart, hold a medicine ball in front of your chest. Put your left leg back in a wide backward stride, and lower down, you are at a 90-degree angle while keeping your knee above your ankle. Push through your front foot to stand, then repeat on the opposite leg.

The why:  Lunges are a great way to mimic the movement of a squat while reducing pressure on the knees.

Get everything you need to do the above exercises with our SMART In-Home Gym.

We have a solution to make sure your fitness can integrate into your living space seamlessly. Our SMART In-Home Gym comes with all the essential functional fitness equipment you need, plus its own organizational system that tucks perfectly into any corner.

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Check Out Our Favorite Posts

  • Get Moving Again with a Stretch Session
  • The Benefits of Resistance Bands Over Free Weights
  • Why using the SMART Core Wheel Will Get You Functionally Fit in 2021
  • Smart Straps Body Weight Training are the All-in-One Workout
  • Plan Your Wellness Goals for 2021

Filed Under: Training and General Health, Workouts

Get Targeted Functional Fitness Training with BIG Results

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Are you feeling stressed, overwhelmed, super busy, or tired in your everyday life? Who isn’t, right? Let me introduce you to functional fitness training. I promise this workout routine will become your new best friend because it targets everyday movements leaving you energized, stronger, and achieving your fitness goals!

What is Functional Fitness Training?

Functional fitness training focuses on exercises that are similar to everyday movements (opposed to targeting specific muscles). The focus on everyday movements gives your body the strength to continue to perform tasks of daily living as you age. 

By emphasizing proper mechanics, you are able to create muscle memory that will be important for your entire life.  Muscle memory is important so you can perform daily activities without thinking about mechanics.  Functional fitness training achieves two very important things for longevity: increased strength and increased coordination.

Functional fitness training achieves two very important things for longevity: increased strength and increased coordination. Click To Tweet

Why is Functional Fitness Training Important?

Functional fitness training is important because you focus on training systems of muscles together to complete daily life movements. Training your body for everyday activities increases your coordination, balance, flexibility, and overall strength.  

Your body creates muscle memories from repeated actions. This muscle memory improves both your physical strength and coordination, resulting in fluid motions. Here’s an example of a functional fitness exercise:

Smart Medicine Ball Squat Press 4 Steps Images

Performing a Smart Medicine Ball Squat Press:

  1. Bend your knees to squat down
  2. Lower your back to bend over
  3. Brace your core and straighten your upper body as you pick up the Smart Medicine Ball
  4. Extend your knees while pressing the Smart Medicine Ball over your head. 

This exercise is like unbagging groceries and putting an item on the top shelf of your pantry. 

The squat press focuses on training multiple muscle groups in a single movement. Our daily movement involves multiple movements at one time utilizing many muscle groups.

Rarely do we find ourselves isolating single muscles to complete daily takes. By coordinating these muscle groups in your regular workout routine, you create muscle memory for the motion that will help you perform essential tasks. As we age, this is so vital. 

This Holistic Approach is Essential for Long Term Health.

As we age, especially in women, our muscle tone naturally decreases. To avoid this and for best results, women need to strength train consistently 2-3 times a week. This may seem like a huge commitment, but keep reading we will make it easy!

A great benefit of strength training is it keeps your bones strong! According to the Mayo Clinic, “By stressing your bones, strength training can increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.” I call that a win-win!

By stressing your bones, strength training can increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. @MayoClinic Click To Tweet

Functional fitness training is a form of strength training!  These exercises  focus on proper mechanics to ensure you’re body is moving  the way it was designed to!  With an emphasis on exercises that use low weight (like the 6lb and 8lb Smart Medicine Ball) or only your body weight, there is no fear of “being bulky” like a man.  On the flip side, it is possible to build larger muscles by significantly increasing the amount of weight or resistance for each exercise.   

But can it relieve stress? YES!

Our bodies are designed to move!  When we exercise our body releases happy chemicals called endorphins.  These natural mood boosters leave us in a better mood and feeling more productive. The natural pick me up that we could all use. 

Our bodies are designed to move! Let Functional fitness training be your guide

How Effective is Functional Fitness Training?

Functional Fitness training can be extremely effective when performed properly and regularly. This training is an effective routine for all fitness abilities, from beginners to experts, even athletes. Our ambassadors routinely team up with us to share insights, exercises and proper form! Check out this video from Prism Fitness Ambassador, Jen Sherbinow! You can find more videos like these on our social media! 

Functional fitness training is effective because it targets multiple muscle movements together.  These movements easily translate to everyday activities, showing results faster than isolated movements, like the ones done on the bulky machines at the gym.

How do I Start Functional Fitness Training Today?

Functional Fitness training is a great option for beginners because you can train at home 2-3 times a week and still see BIG results. Our Smart Self-guided program takes you through a full body workout. Start with 8 reps per exercise and perform 2 -3 rounds. 

Although this routine is light impact, please be sure to check with your health care provider before beginning any new fitness routines.

What’s the Best Equipment for Functional Fitness Training at Home?

At Prism Fitness we pride ourselves on creating the best equipment on the market. One of our favorites for Functional Fitness Training is the new Smart In Home Gym because it just makes sense. 

What Makes it the Best?

At Prism Fitness, we specialize in Functional Fitness Training.  Everything we do is to align with our goal to Make it Smart so you can Make it Happen.

What does Make it Smart mean?  

We take a full 360-degree view at how our customers store and use our products.  We keep your health, safety, and life in mind in every product we create. 

This 360-degree view brought us to creating our new Smart In Home Gym. 

Smart In Home Gym –Storage:

We knew many of our customers were feeling overwhelmed or annoyed by the pile of newly purchased home fitness equipment on the floor. Maybe it’s the stability ball rolling across the living room or the mess of resistance bands under the coffee table.  Our solution, a sleek home gym storage solution with a small footprint that also features all of the most important elements of functional fitness training.

You're going to get max health benefits for your Functional Fitness Training by learning the benefits, effective training, & proper equipment #fitnessforlife #functionalfitnesstraining
Smart In Home Gym –Use of Products:

We’ve all done it, haven’t we? We get super excited about a trendy piece of fitness equipment. Then, we use it a few times and the novelty wears off only for it to end up forgotten in the basement or closet, never to be seen again. We don’t want this to be your fitness story!

We have embedded the best exercises directly on our products for easy reference, so you know exactly how to use it.  No more guessing or searching the internet to figure out what to do with it.  Routine problem solved!

The result is we have created the most INNOVATIVE functional fitness training system for your home gym, whether your home gym is your living room, basement, or bedroom!

The Smart In-Home gym is a great space saver and storage solution for all your functional fitness equipment. Picture here are two Smart In-Home Gym Installs.

Our partners are loving this product.  Here is what they have to say:

“We need to have this for our customers” – Summit Commercial Fitness

 “Solid in home solution; many commercial applications too!” – Prosource Fitness Equipment

“My team is super interested and excited about this new item.” – Precor Commercial Fitness

“Great drop ship option for our customers.” – Fitter International

“I’d love to get one for our floor.” – Spokane Exercise Equipment

“It looks really neat!” – Nova Fitness Equipment

What are the Benefits of Using Prism Fitness Smart In Home Gym for Functional Fitness Training?

This Smart In Home Gym is the best option for functional fitness training because we have included ALL THE STAPLES of a functional fitness workout: strength, balance, flexibility, and recovery.  

We’ve selected these vital functional fitness training pieces so your home gym can continue your fitness journey for many years. These functional fitness training staples included in the Smart In Home Gym are: 

  • Strength  = 2 Smart Medicine Balls, 1 Smart Door Anchor & 3 Smart Guard Sleeved Tubing
  • Balance = 1 Smart Stability Ball
  • Flexibility = One Smart Mat (plus comfort!)
  • Recovery =  1 Smart Recovery Foam Roller

Why is strength training an absolute must?

Muscles have a pretty simple motto: use it or lose it. 

If you do not consistently strength train, your body will naturally lose muscle mass. Strength is so important in many aspects of our lives, like making the one trip wonder of groceries from the car to the kitchen and being able to play with the kids. 

The more muscle maintained on your body, the easier it is to achieve these everyday activities.  Plus as an added bonus, muscle burns calories, so maintaining a higher muscle mass causes your body to burn more calories at rest (sleeping, sitting, etc.)

Here is an awesome article where we dive even deeper into the benefits of Strength Training: Why Strength Exercise is Important. 

Why do you need good balance?

Balance is used in everything we do, whether we are simply standing and talking to a friend or playing hopscotch with the kids. Good balance is typically the result of a strong core (no you don’t need a visible 6-pack to have a strong core!).

The main benefit of good balance is you don’t have to worry about falling. According to the National Council on Aging, “Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults”.  

No matter how old you are, 20-100, working on balance is going to strongly negate the risks of falls.  Remember falling is not a normal part of aging! 

Want to learn more about building balance?  Check out this article: Why Balance Training is Important.

Why should you work on flexibility?

Flexibility is extremely important for joint health.  Having a full range of motion allows you to do many common everyday tasks like being able to comfortably sit on the floor and play with the kids or lift your leg over your bike. 

Want to learn more about Flexibility? Read our article Why Flexibility Exercise is Important.

Why is recovery so vital?

Recovery is when the magic happens!  Recovery is the time between workouts where your body rebuilds the muscles broken down during exercise.  This rebuilding process is what makes you stronger!

Recovery and rest are just as important as getting in your workout.  If you skip your recovery day, you will be more likely to become injured because your body hasn’t fully healed from the previous workout.  

Learn more about how to recover here: Rest + Recovery 

If you love Pinterest as much as we do, follow us here and pin this article.

You're going to get max health benefits for your Functional Fitness Training by learning the benefits, effective training, & proper equipment #fitnessforlife #functionalfitnesstraining
You're going to get max health benefits for your Functional Fitness Training by learning the benefits, effective training, & proper equipment #fitnessforlife #functionalfitnesstraining
You're going to get max health benefits for your Functional Fitness Training by learning the benefits, effective training, & proper equipment #fitnessforlife #functionalfitnesstraining
You're going to get max health benefits for your Functional Fitness Training by learning the benefits, effective training, & proper equipment #fitnessforlife #functionalfitnesstraining
You're going to get max health benefits for your Functional Fitness Training by learning the benefits, effective training, & proper equipment. 4 Steps to Master the Squat Press

Workouts to try at Home

We’ve gone through a lot of reasons to make functional fitness training your primary form of exercise so here is a functional fitness workout to get you started: 

 

Warm Up:

30-45 Seconds each

High Knees, Butt Kickers, Arm Circles, Lat Jacks, Bodyweight Squats

Exercises:

Squat Press

6lb Smart Med Ball

3 sets, 8-12 reps

Sleeved Tubing Row

Medium Resistance (Red)

2 sets, 8-12 reps

Chest Press

Sleeved Tubing, Medium Resistance (Red) with Door Anchor

2 sets, 8-12 reps

Crunch

Sit-ups on Smart Stability Ball

3 sets ,10-15 reps

Cooldown:

Stretching on Smart Mat

Recovery:

Smart Foam Recovery Roller for relaxing after workout.

 

Rest about 1 minutes between sets. Complete all sets before moving on to next exercise. Remember to listen to you body!  If you need a little more time between set or exercises, take it!  But don’t skimp on the rest between sets.

You're going to get max health benefits for your Functional Fitness Training by learning the benefits, effective training, & proper equipment #fitnessforbeginners #beginnerlevelworkout

We would love to hear from you. Let us know in the comments or find us on one of our Social Media pages and let us know how your fitness routine is going. Do you need more tips or help on how to use your equipment, then stop by Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and let’s chat. 

Disclaimer: 

We are fitness experts but we are not your doctor.  We recommend checking with your doctor before starting any new training programs. 

Let’s Connect!

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Search This Site

Join Us on Pinterest!

Check Out Our Favorite Posts

  • Get Moving Again with a Stretch Session
  • The Benefits of Resistance Bands Over Free Weights
  • Why using the SMART Core Wheel Will Get You Functionally Fit in 2021
  • Smart Straps Body Weight Training are the All-in-One Workout
  • Plan Your Wellness Goals for 2021

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If you want to set your body up for long term success, now may be the time to add in a stretch session to your wellness goals.

Get Moving Again with a Stretch Session

Why adding a weekly Stretch Session will help you get moving again. If you feel like the last year of makeshift home offices, lack of gym time, and more Netflix & chill has led to the loss of strength, mobility, and flexibility, you are not alone. Poor posture can develop from spending long sitting sessions, [...]

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Resistance bands are a must have in your home gym, although many people are still using the traditional free weights like dumbbells, kettlebells, and barbells. There are some big advantages to resistance bands over free weights, but first what are resistance bands? Resistance bands can mean several different products depending who you talk to, including [...]

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Why using the SMART Core Wheel Will Get You Functionally Fit in 2021

This is the year to be the fittest “you” yet, and we have the perfect training companion to get you strong from the inside out; the SMART Core Wheel. When it comes to training your midsection, there are a lot of things you can do. But if you’re looking for something different, we challenge you […]

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Smart Straps are the all-in-one functional fitness training system allows you to train smarter by recruiting more muscles for stabilization.

Smart Straps Body Weight Training are the All-in-One Workout

Take body weight training to a whole new level with Smart Straps! This all-in-one functional fitness training system allows you to train smarter by recruiting more muscles for stabilization. Try performing a Bridge with your feet in the Smart Straps cuffs and you’ll instantly feel what we mean. Hello glutes and hamstrings! Three Reasons to [...]

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Get to the Core of Your Fitness Routine

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The Facts About Your Core and Abs  Many people still cling to the outdated idea that the goal of an ab or core workout is to have a flat belly or a “six-pack” when the real point of working your mid-section is to enhance movement of the rest of your body while preventing injury. Once [...]

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Fitness Gift Ideas! Fitness Wish List! This year has shown us that our wellness is more important than ever. Regular exercise, proper nutrition, and a good night’s sleep are known to reduce anxiety. That’s on a lot of people’s gift wish lists right now! With public spaces such as gyms limited, closed, or restricted, it’s […]

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GluteBridge

5 Exercises to do instead of Squats

  5 Exercises to do instead of Squats The simple squat is a powerful movement and a favorite among fitness fanatics for a good reason: they work. Squats move the muscles of your lower body (quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, hips, and calves) in unison, and that can translate to real-world strength. Squats also work on hip [...]

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LIIT

LIIT: Low Impact Intensity Training

Intense Workouts without Jumping     Are LIIT workouts for you? Perhaps you’ve decided that plyometrics isn’t for you. Maybe an injury has put jumping on the sidelines. Or, simply, your current workout space doesn’t allow for much room to go high or wide. If you’re in a place to give hard-core impact a break [...]

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Recently Viewed Products!

  • Smart Deluxe Cable Kit

    Smart Deluxe Cable Kit

    $89.99
    Add to cart
  • Smart Mobility & Recovery Training Bundle

    Smart Mobility & Recovery Training Bundle

    $259.99
    Add to cart
  • Smart Resistance Wall Gym

    $59.00 – $1,799.00
    Select options
  • Smart Resistance Cable Caddy

    $249.00 – $699.00
    Select options

Filed Under: Functional Fitness, Healthy Lifestyle, Workouts Tagged With: at-home workout, Fitness, Functional Fitness, functional fitness training, home fitness, Home Gym, home workout

6 Station Outdoor Bootcamp

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Summer is the perfect time to take fitness outside, and an OUTDOOR BOOTCAMP is still one of the best ways to get a great sweat in under the sun.

 

Designing an outdoor boot camp doesn’t have to be hard. All you need is adequate space, a good class design, and enough equipment for your group.  A good boot camp workout mixes cardio, strength, and agility exercises – working opposing major muscle groups and alternating between upper body and lower body work. Whether you are a fitness pro looking for a class design that is ready to roll out, or you just want to hit the park for a solo session, we give you this simple, but effective circuit-style routine.

 

This design works best with 12 people but is scalable up or down. At 12, you can have two people at each station, increasing the peer-to-peer motivation.  Adjust equipment according to your group size. Set your stations up in a large circle, or in a straight line depending on your space. Leave enough room to perform the work, while keeping the stations close enough to maximize group interaction.

 

 

Equipment Needed (Based on 12 people)

Agility Ladder x 1

Medicine Balls x 6

Jump Ropes x 2

Fitness Cables x 2

 

 

STATIONS:

 

  1. Agility Ladder Shuffle-Sprint Return (Equip: 1 Agility Ladder)

Going as fast as possible, put one foot in each ladder rung from start to finish. At the end, sprint back to the start, and repeat. Two people should be able to work in line with a time gap of 3 seconds. If your group becomes larger, keep the momentum up by having participants do scissor jumps in between ladder runs.

 

 

 

  1. Jump Rope (1 Jump Rope for each participant)

Each participant grabs a rope. Go all-out for full time.

 

If it’s been a while since you’ve jumped rope, here are a few tips.

Jump 1 to 2 inches off the floor, with just enough space for the rope to slide under feet —balls of feet should touch the floor.

Keep your elbows close to your sides as you turn the rope. The movement comes from the wrists and forearms, not the shoulders.

 

 

 

  1. Medicine Ball Pushup (1 Medicine Ball for each participant)

Start in the push-up position on the floor, and square your hips and keep your back aligned. Place one hand on a medicine ball, while your other hand stays on the floor. Keep your feet spread wide to help with stability. This will be your starting position.

Keep your body straight, bend your elbows and descend towards the ground, allowing your chest to approach the floor, stopping chest at the elbow. Push back up to full arm extension.

Repeat on the other side.

 

 

  1. Side Raise/Front Raise (1 Fitness Cable for each participant)

Each participant can grab a cable that provides a challenging level of resistance. Alternate between lifting your arms out to the side and raising them both to the front. Keep the range no higher than shoulder height.

 

 

  1. Russian Twists (1 Medicine Ball for each participant)

Sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor (easier) or raised up off the floor (more difficult) at about a 45 degrees angle. Hold the medicine ball with both hands, directly in front of you. Twist slowly from your torso to one side and touch the medicine ball to the floor. Pause and then smoothly contract your abs and twist your torso back to the center position, and then proceed on to touch the medicine ball to the floor on the other side of you. Repeat.

 

 

  1. Low Pulse Medicine Ball Goblet Squat (1 Medicine Ball for each participant)

Stand with your feet just outside your hips, toes slightly turned out. Hold the medicine ball in both hands at hip level. Keeping your weight in your heels bend at the knees and squat down to a 90-degree angle, moving the medicine ball toward the floor, in between your legs. Once in position, pulse at the bottom for the full time.

 

 

 

 

The Details:

 

TIMING: 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off

ROUNDS: 6

 

If you are a leader or coach of a group, run through the basics and form for each exercise. Next, run through a simple dynamic warmup that prepares the body in all planes of movement. (20 jumping jacks, 20 high knees, 20 skaters, 20 clockwork lunges). Then, have participants claim a starting station, spreading out so that all circuits are being utilized. Ideally, there should be two at each station.

 

Next, start the timer and perform the indicated station exercise for 45 seconds. During the 15 second rest, have participants move to the next station in line. Once participants have completed all six stations, take a 60-second break. After the break, have participants go back to their starting station and start the next round. Completing six rounds of the six stations will give you a 45-minute workout session. End with a cooldown.

 

COOLDOWN:

Run through a series of sun salutations. Try this four times through.

 

Mountain Pose.

Hands Fan up.

Dive into forward fold.

Half lift.

Hands to floor, step back to high plank (knees or toes).

Lower to low plank.

Pull through to up dog.

Hips push back to down dog.

 

Filed Under: Sports Training, Workouts

If you want to improve your fitness level, try this: Group Fitness.

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When you workout by yourself, does it provide you with enough of a challenge? It’s easy to slack off on the rep count, or intensity when no one is looking. But, there’s a bond that is formed when a group sweats, grinds and struggles their way through a crazy-tough workout. If you are looking for that next-level challenge, gather up your best group and jump into some small group training, group bike rides/runs, or even a group exercise class.

Just like having an accountability partner, group workouts can make you push harder, get competitive, and increase motivation.

 

Push Harder

Studies show that exercising with a group can take your workout up a notch because you tend to push yourself harder than you would on your own. This is called The Köhler Effect, and the, and the basis is that no one wants to be the weakest link in any given group setting. In the fitness world, this translates to pushing harder when you are working out with people who are fitter than you.

In fact, in one study, participants performed a series of planks and showed that working with a group produced a motivation gain that allowed the participants to hold their planks for a longer period of time. Those who exercised with a more-capable partner increased their plank time by 24 percent.

 

Get Competitive

Group settings can lead to positive competitiveness. Seeing what others are capable of doing can inspire you to try harder. In fact, when the group mirrors the effort and level of its fittest members, the result can be an elevation in the fitness level of the entire group. Working on this competitive edge can also help you past mental barriers that can develop when you are on your own.

 

Increase Motivation

Group workouts can improve consistency, duration, inspiration and can create a higher level of motivation among one another. Increases in motivation often happen because group workouts tend to be filled with encouragement in the form of verbal cheers and positive vibes from others to keep the energy and motivation high. These accolades are infectious and create a positive attitude and environment for the whole class.

 

 

Filed Under: General Health Tips, Healthy Lifestyle, Workouts

Trail Running Tips!

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Photo © Jamey Sotis

Improve your agility, speed, coordination, and balance for your next run.

 

Paved running surfaces, such as roads and sidewalks are flat, steady, and for the most part, predictable. Trails, by nature, are usually not.

With trail running, every step is different. You may have to jump over tree roots, run over a rock or slippery moss, and your body must stabilize itself on each type of terrain.

Trail running itself is like a miniature plyometric training session: you leap over a stream, change your footfalls to avoid obstacles, and learn to land on rocks by adding mini jumps into your run. While this provides an exciting twist to a typical run, it also presents a considerable challenge to your body. Even running downhill can be tough because it forces your body to absorb an immense amount of pounding.

That’s why adding cross training to your workout routine, specifically plyometric training, can be beneficial to trail runners.

It’s a great way to strengthen your muscles, ligaments, and tendons that help to keep you upright and handle the impact from all directions. It’s a perfect complement to the demands of trail running.

Try these cross-training exercises in the gym to improve your agility, speed, coordination, and balance. By integrating the right moves, you may overcome muscular imbalances that could lead to injury and still improve your overall coordination and control.

 

 

On the Plyo Box

 

 

 

Basic Box Jumps: Add explosive power to your trail runs. Focus on jumping onto the box in one quick, explosive movement. According to ACE Fitness, this is the correct way to execute a box jump.

  1. Begin in a deep squat position with a step or sturdy platform or box in front and arms bent next to the sides of the body.
  2. Swing the arms and jump as high as possible, landing quietly and with control in a squat position on the step. Both feet should land at the same time, and weight should stay in the heels.

 

Box Jump with 180 Rotational Jumps: Once you’ve mastered the basic box jump, you can practice advanced agility. Jump on the box, jump off the other side, do a 180 rotational jump and return.

 

Box Jump Burpees: This is the same as the 180 Rotational Jumps, with an added burpee.

 

Box Depth Jumps: This plyometric variation prepares the body to absorb force while you’re running downhill on your favorite trail. First, step on to the box or bench. Squat to transfer power into your legs, then power off the bench with the balls of your feet, landing even on the floor. Jog back around the bench, and repeat.

 

 

On the Floor

Broad Jump Shuffle: Add some coordination and agility to your footwork. Jump forward, landing with both feet at the same time in a slight squat. Stand upright, then shuffle backward to the start point and repeat. To work on your “rock to rock leaps,” add a side to side skater at the end of the sequence.

Be sure to check out the next #WORKOUTWEDNESDAY for some great visuals on how to execute these moves!

 

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”  

John Muir

 

 

 

Filed Under: Agility, Sports Training, Workouts Tagged With: Trail Running

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