Resistance bands (sometimes called therabands or medibands) are great for exercise therapy and recovery. They are thin elastic bands that come in various sizes and thicknesses.
Exercises to try with resistance bands
Yoga, pilates and barre classes make use of this equipment to add resistance to the positions and techniques. Beginners who want to add a little resistance to exercises use these bands as well. Some examples of exercises that can use these bands are:
- Lateral band walk – this is where is place the band around both legs just above the knee. Then you can shuffle sideways for about 5 steps then return. This is excellent for the adductors, abductors and .
- Clam shells – lie on your side with legs bent and the band around the legs above the knees. Then basically open your legs while keeping your feet together. This is great for the glutes and thighs.
- Lateral raise – stand on one end of the band then using a straight arm raise up from the side. Adjust the resistance by changing where the band is held. This exercise is great for the shoulder sand the core.
Physical therapists and coaches are also big fans of these bands for recovery and rehabilitation. When recovering from an injury these allow the user to slowly build movement and muscle using the light resistance provided by the bands.
You can find a cheap, basic set of resistance bands here. This set will set you up nicely to either improve your exercise performance or help you recover better. Our yoga kit has more recommended products that can benefit your yoga practice and training.