Training
Marisa HeinzeOctober 21, 2019
Six reasons gymnastic rings training is effective
Bodyweight exercises are the hallmark of an athlete: gymnasts in particular are masters of them. But what were once the workout tools of olympians and circus acrobats are now staples in high-tech fitness clubs. From the artistry of movement to neuromuscular coordination, there are a number of reasons gymnastic rings training is effective for everyone. Here are a handful of them.
Gymnastic rings training benefits
1. They work muscles you didn’t know you had
Conventional exercise simply cannot compare to the stimulation of deep muscles that occurs working out on gymnastic rings. The unstable nature of this fitness tool means you have to push to a higher level of intensity to perform a move such as a pullup. As well as actually having to perform the pull up, your body also has to stabilise itself in midair, recruiting more muscle fibres in the process.
2. They’re surprisingly versatile
Few gyms incorporate gymnastic rings (and gymnastic rings training) into their training floors - but EVO certainly do. However, if you’re unable to get ring access at a club, they can be attached pretty much anywhere. Hang them from the ceiling, a pullup bar, steel beam, tree branch - wherever you find yourself. You can adjust the height to perform both push and pull exercises. You can even have them at different heights to challenge yourself to unique workouts.
3. There’s a playful element
We love creative workouts at EVO – and we can’t deny that gymnastic rings training is super creative. The joy of functional training is that it can feel like play, rather than a chore. Unlike the stale monotony of conventional gyms, we champion compound exercises that work a multitude of muscles at the same time. Training on gymnastic rings is the same kind of movements you performed effortlessly as a kid in the park - seamlessly transitioning from one bit of equipment to the next by swinging, pulling, pushing and rotating.
4. They turn you into a flex machine
As well as strength training, gymnastic rings give you the added superpower of mobility and flexibility. Lifting weights without these physical attributes can quite easily lead to injuries. It can prevent movement in the shoulders, making it harder to grasp bars securely and balance weights in your core and back. Grabbing those gymnastic rings means you can perform just one exercise to accomplish a spectrum of full-body feats.
5. It’s easier on your joints
The difference between gymnastic rings training and stationary bars training is that you can move freely on them. In turn, you’ll be able to adapt to more natural positions and avoid overloading your ligaments and tendons. The ability to switch your grip and position also prevents shoulder pain and leads to a more effective workout.
6. Super strength builder
There’s nothing like watching a gymnast at work to make you feel inferior at fitness. They make it look so easy - but the reality is that it requires an admirable level of strength. They didn’t develop this strength doing repetitive sets of barbells and dumbbells. Instead, they got good through functional training: think gymnastic rings combined with squats, deadlifts, bench presses and more compound exercises. Basically, they follow the EVO philosophy.