Those two straps, hanging innocently, have the ability to quickly remind you that there are muscles you haven’t used in ages.  As part of my partnership with the YMCA, I attended a TRX Circuit class after work at the Prospect Park YMCA. As soon as I walked through the studio door, I could tell this class was popular. Tickets were required in order to snag a spot in the packed class, meaning that it often fills to capacity. As I waited for the workout to begin, Juanita, the friend and experienced instructor warned me that I’d be sore the next day and sweaty by the end of class.

In case you aren’t familiar with TRX this acronym stands for total body resistance exercise.  Invented by a former Navy SEAL, this tool makes common exercises more difficult by forcing you to engage different body parts as you engage your core since you are often suspending your legs off the ground or leaning into the strap which changes your center of gravity. Trust me, this strap made the minute long exercises feel like five minutes of work. Similar to the megaformer at Brooklyn Body Burn, it left me trembling.

During the course of the next 55-minutes, she laughed, danced and motivated us through a workout that reminded me very much of the personal training sessions I took during 2011-2013 as it combined cardio, strength and TRX movements to keep our muscles guessing and ensure that none of the students were ever bored. After splitting the class in half, she explained that we’d rotate constantly between the front of the studio (TRX) and the back of the studio (kettlebells and mats) completing one minute of each movement.

The TRX exercises included the TRX push-up, chest press, inverted row, tricep extension, low row, frog, pike and bicep curls. In the back of the room we used the kettle bells to add an extra level of difficulty to common moves like Russian twists, squats, and lunges before focusing on more kettlebell specific moves like swings.

Once again, I was amazed at how easily Juanita made everyone in the class feel comfortable regardless their fitness level. She was constantly helping people make the moves easier or harder and reminding everyone that they should be proud that they showed up and only compare their ability against themselves, not the person next to them.

Since they offer this class multiple times per week and at multiple locations, I look forward to taking it again soon!

If your local YMCA or local gym or fitness studio offers a TRX or TRX circuit class, it is a great opportunity for you to challenge your body in a new way. If you want to learn more about TRX before going to your first class, this Greatist article outlines the five easy to follow TRX moves.

Interested in trying this class out for yourself or visiting your local YMCA of Greater New York? Head to their website to try your local YMCA for free!

What’s your favorite way to use a TRX strap? 

Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored partnership with the YMCA of Greater New York.