10 Weird Gym Tools, Explained

Photo by: CN Digital Studio

Battle Ropes

Remember that ginormous rope you used for tug-a-war as a kid? Remember how using it always kinda sucked? (The rope burn! Feeling ridiculous when you lost your footing! The rope burn!) This will be nothing like that. But the props are pretty much the same. Trainers and bootcamp instructors love using these burly, oversized ropes for their awesome ability to ratchet your heart rate way up and give you

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Photo by: CN Digital Studio

Battle Ropes

Remember that ginormous rope you used for tug-a-war as a kid? Remember how using it always kinda sucked? (The rope burn! Feeling ridiculous when you lost your footing! The rope burn!) This will be nothing like that. But the props are pretty much the same. Trainers and bootcamp instructors love using these burly, oversized ropes for their awesome ability to ratchet your heart rate way up and give you total-body toning at the same time. Next time you see 'em at the gym, walk straight over and try this.

Go-to move: Alternating squat wave

Try it: Stand with feet wide and grab a rope end in each hand, fists together (the ends are wrapped in rubber, so no rope burn; score!). Squat low, with back flat, shoulders down and chest out. Explode up, pulling hands wide apart in front of you, elbows slightly bent, then squat again, bringing hands back together; this creates a wave effect on the rope. Continue as quickly as you can for 40 seconds, then rest for 20 seconds. Repeat twice.

What it works: Everything! Shoulders, chest, arms, abs, back, butt and legs.

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