Not just for gymnasts these days, many calisthenics enthusiasts are using gymnastic rings to enhance their training. Such a simple training tool can take your training to the next level. Rings will add a new challenge to all your existing exercises that you normally perform on a bar or the ground.
How are rings different to bars or the ground?
Due to the free hanging nature of rings there is inherent instability when using them for any exercises. Because of this, it requires your body to use many stabilizing and core muscles to do simple exercises. After a few sessions these underused muscles will get stronger and the benefits will extend past your workouts.
What exercises can you do on gymnastic rings?
For so many body weight exercises, rings can take the place of other equipment. You can exercise almost every part of your body and do full workouts with only one piece of equipment. Some exercises you can perform on gymnastic rings are:
- pull ups,
- muscle ups,
- rows,
- front/back levers, and
- many gymnastic moves.
What type of gymnastic rings should you get?
There are two main types materials used for rings – wooden and plastic. Wooden rings are the traditional material used for gymnastic rings. They combine great grip, feel and durability therefore making them a good choice for most users. Here is a good choice for some quality wooden rings. Plastic rings are generally cheaper than wooden rings but don’t have as nice grip and feel. However if you prefer to try some cheaper plastic rings at first to see if you want to train with rings, then these ones are a good choice. While calisthenics is generally associated with no equipment, a few key pieces can really improve your training. Check out our calisthenics/body weight kit for all our recommended items to enhance your workouts!