Few pieces of exercise equipment are quite as versatile as resistance bands. At first glance, these brightly-colored pieces of rubber don’t look very impressive. When it comes to strength training, however, they are extremely powerful, providing a fast, affordable, and convenient way to build muscle.

There are a variety of different ways to use resistance bands. For instance, they can be used to perform traditional weightlifting exercises like bicep curls and shoulder presses. Alternatively, you can use them to increase the intensity of certain cardiovascular exercises. If you are doing speed skaters, for example, putting a band around your ankles and stretching it between your legs will result in a far more challenging workout.
Below are some helpful tips for training with resistance bands. Following these tips will help you get the most out of these versatile pieces of equipment:
1. Choose the right bands
Resistance bands come in quite a few different styles. Two of the most popular are flat bands and tube bands. As you might guess, flat bands are made out of a thin, flat piece of rubber or latex while tube bands are made out of a piece of rubber that has been formed into a tube.
Tube bands are a little bit hard to hold onto, which is why they come with handles. The handles are attached to either end of the band. While this is useful for certain types of exercises like bicep curls, it also can be a little bit limiting, both in terms of how you can use the bands and the level of resistance that you can achieve.
With flat bands, on the other hand, you can grab the band at any point. That gives you greater control over the level of resistance. By grabbing the band closer to the area where it is anchored, you can increase the resistance. Decreasing the resistance is simply a matter of grabbing it a little bit further away. Since you can grab the band at any point rather than just with the handle, flat bands tend to be a lot more versatile.
2. Choose the right level of resistance
The level of resistance provided by each band can vary. Thin, lightweight bands offer very little resistance, while thick, heavy-duty bands make working out a lot more difficult. If your goal is to build muscle, you should choose a band that allows you to complete anywhere from 10 to 12 reps before your muscles become fatigued.
3. Check your form
If you want to get the most out of resistance band training, it is essential to use good form. Consider working out in front of a mirror so that you can keep an eye on your posture and the position of your body. Make any adjustments as necessary to achieve perfect form. That way, you can get faster results from your workouts.
Training with resistance bands is an extremely effective way to get in shape. To get the best results, choose the right bands, an appropriate level of resistance, and use excellent form.