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The lore around TRX founder and CEO Randy Hetrick goes something like this: Navy SEAL Randy needed a way to train for functional pulling while deployed for operations. Randy used a jiu jitsu belt to create the original TRX Suspension Trainer prototype. Randy’s SEAL team noticed the contraption, and his fellow SEALs asked for their own. Randy returned stateside, got his MBA, built a global fitness brand, and enjoyed his success. But that’s the oversimplified version of the tale. The broader version is defined by family, hard work, and the strength of fathers. “I had the good fortune of growing up really with two dads—my dad and my stepdad—and they both contributed interesting things to me,” he said.  His father had a work ethic Randy characterises as “a force of nature;” an old-school Kansan who instilled in Randy the need to go out and prove himself. “It was funny because my dad was a dentist, but I think, psychologically, all he ever wanted to be was a race car builder. He was always in the garage. He was either in somebody's mouth or in the garage in an engine.”  Randy credits his father with teaching him how to be resourceful and to work tirelessly to bring an idea to fruition. “He was like MacGyvver. Whatever it is that needed to be fixed, he could fix it. He was the guy that was up working until one in the morning on a Sunday night, and then waking up at six to hit the dental practice all day long. That sort of work ethic and that grinder mentality I definitely got from my dad.”  Randy caught the business bug from his stepfather, whom he describes as a serial entrepreneur. “He was very much of the you-can-do-anything mentality of the classic entrepreneurs… My stepdad was of the mind that you need to expose your kid to things that both are important to you and that maybe he or she otherwise would never get exposure to. He'd been a Marine in Vietnam, so I got interested in the military primarily through him.” Randy sees himself as a mashup of that paternal input—the inventor and businessman. “They were both very good dads,” he said. While his father figures shaped Randy’s interests at an early age, fatherhood also shaped Randy as an entrepreneur. In between his career as a Navy SEAL and his life as an inventor and CEO, Randy had another challenge: business school with an infant at home. Randy was commuting between his home in San Francisco and classes at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, so his wife shouldered the bulk of the responsibility for their newborn son during that time. On top of classes and fatherhood, he was fleshing out the idea for building a company around the Suspension Trainer prototype had developed in his SEAL days. Randy graduated from Stanford with his one-year-old son, Harrison, on his shoulders, but the TRX journey was just getting started. As a startup founder, he knew that his business would require considerable time and attention, and that he couldn’t be a super doting father in those early years. Once again, he leaned on his wife—this time with the hope that if TRX failed, it would fail quickly so he could pivot into a more traditional job.  It’s a struggle that many parents—especially entrepreneurs—can relate to: wanting to be present for your kids, but also understanding that you’re working to create a better life and future for them. “I figured that by the time that my little boy started to have activities where he wanted me to be there, I would be at the point where I would be able to do that. So from the time that Harrison was maybe three or four years old, I didn't miss anything. I worked all the time, but I didn't miss anything. And it's been that way ever since.“ Both of Randy’s sons—Harrison, 20, and Hawkins, 7, have spent their lives on TRX straps. “Harri literally grew up on the straps,” Randy said. “He was the three-year-old that was spinning and twirling and playing on the straps constantly. Hawkins followed in his big brother's footsteps. He's the same way: they grow up on the gear and in the midst of the TRX brand.” Starting a company may have pulled Randy away from his family in the early years, but it’s also produced incredible memories with his sons. As his kids have traveled around the world with him for trade shows and events, they’ve been able to see and experience different places and cultures together—opportunities that may not have arisen but for those sacrifices. These days, a lot of their family time revolves around sports. When his kids are in the middle of a competitive season, Randy happily assumes the role of equipment manager and chauffeur. (Though Hawkins is too young for team strength workouts, Harri’s strength training facilities have always been outfitted with TRX gear.) Beyond the sports arenas, his family enjoys skiing, surfing, and mountain biking together. Randy and Harri work out together when Harri is home from college, and Hawkins will likely join the family workout sessions when he’s older. Just as Randy’s father figures helped shape him, he hopes his sons will learn lessons from his life as an entrepreneur.  The most important lesson he hopes to teach his sons?  “Never quit. Honestly, that is one of the most important lessons I think that you can learn as a person. And a corollary to that is don't be afraid to fail. I'm just not a believer in that word. That's why I almost have to put it in air quotes; because what is it? It's actually impossible to fail unless you quit. You can fall short of your goal, at which point you learn, you do better next time, and you climb another rung up the ladder. But the only time you genuinely fail is when you quit.” When we talk about strong fathers, we’re talking about more than how much someone can squat or how fast they can run. The strength of fathers is in the way they shape their children’s lives—whether it’s inspiring kids to tinker, motivating them to try new things, or setting an example for healthy living.  For Father’s Day, and every day, TRX is proud to be the brainchild of a strong dad, and to support strong dads everywhere. Whether they're working out with their kids, or teaching them the value of hard work, we're happy to celebrate all of the incredible fathers in the TRX family.

Since TRX® introduced Suspension Training to the world more than a decade ago, we’ve championed the idea that the TRX Suspension Trainer® can be a one-and-done tool. If you only have space for one piece of equipment in your home or on the go, the straps deliver a full-body workout.  But the Suspension Trainer doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s also easy to incorporate other equipment, like weights, into your Suspension Training routine to level up your strength training. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce TRX Dumbbells—the latest addition to our full-body lineup of tools. Why TRX Dumbbells? From weights to resistance bands, TRX has spent years branching out beyond our signature straps to outfit your gym with the highest-quality fitness staples for any type of workout. We’ve developed the best kettlebells, weighted vests, power bags, and glute bands, and now we’re excited to debut the ultimate fixed-weight dumbbells.  Ranging from 5 pounds to 50 pounds, (2.3 kg to 22.7 kg),TRX Dumbbells have durable, rubber-hex ends—so they won’t go rolling away—and ergonomic handles with a knurled textured grip to encourage proper form.  Get Reacquainted With a Classic The dumbbell icon is synonymous with strength. While many people may associate free weights with mental images of bodybuilders and CrossFitters, dumbbells aren’t just for bulking up and building mass. They can also be used for strength and toning.  Curls, rows, presses, squats: many moves you do with your TRX Suspension Trainer can also be performed with dumbbells. And you don’t have to choose between tools. Sometimes, you can have it all! How To Add Dumbbells to Your Suspension Trainer Workout To ease into adding dumbbells into your TRX routine, we’ve developed two mini-circuits demonstrating different approaches to the combo.  The first set pairs similar movements on both the TRX Suspension Trainer and TRX Dumbbells, and the second set incorporates dumbbells into your favourite Suspension Trainer exercises.  Let’s get started! Superset Cardio Burst For this superset series, we’re letting the TRX Dumbbells and TRX Suspension Trainer shine individually by pairing slight variations of the same exercise using each tool. Our three combos are:  TRX Jump Squat + Dumbbell Loaded Squats TRX Sprinters + Dumbbell Stepback Lunges TRX Hamstring Curl + Dumbbell Hip Thrusters You’ll be doing each move for 45 seconds, followed by a 15 second break to reset with the next move. Total circuit time: 6 minutes. Feeling feisty? Double the set for a 12-minute burn. TRX Jump Squat + Dumbbell Loaded Squats Start with your straps adjusted to mid-length. Stand facing the anchor, heels planted hip distance apart, and lightly grip the handles. Drop low into your squat, and drive back up into a jump, lifting off from your toes and landing on your toes. Keep the movement fluid for maximum benefit.  For the Loaded Squats, you’ll once again start with your heels planted hip-distance apart. Rack your dumbbells on your shoulders—we suggest a set of mediums or heavies—and proceed to drop into a squat, and fire back up to full extension. For your safety, keep your heels on the ground for this move. (In other words, no jumping!) RX Sprinters + Dumbbell Stepback Lunges Fully lengthen the straps, and stand facing away from the anchor point with the straps threaded under your arms. Keep your chest forward, and walk your feet back until your body is forming a 45-degree angle with the floor. The angle may feel a little weird, but the Suspension Trainer will support your bodyweight. Next, pick one foot to be your planted or forward foot: that foot will stay connected with the floor as your other foot steps back into a lunge. Return to your neutral position—feet standing parallel—by driving off your forward, planted foot and activating your front quad.  Once you get the hang of that movement, you can add a balance component by not letting your “free” foot touch the floor at the front of the movement. Finally, you can either speed up or add a hop to each rep for an additional challenge. Don’t forget to spend equal time on each leg! For your Loaded Stepback Lunges, you’ll hold either one dumbbell in each hand by your sides, like a suitcase, or grab the rubber ends of a single dumbbell and hold it next to your chest, under your collarbone. Keep one foot firmly planted, and step back into a lunge with the second foot. Both knees should bend to 90-degree angles, and your back knee should hover just above the floor. Drive forward to standing through the planted, front foot, and repeat the move, alternating between sides.  TRX Hamstring Curls + Dumbbell Hip Thrusters For the TRX Hamstring Curl, adjust your foot cradles to the mid-calf position, and start lying on the ground, face up, with your heels resting in the foot cradles. In this move, you’ll begin firing through your quads and posterior chain to lift your backside off the ground. Once you’re flexing and floating, pull your knees in toward your chest, and then fully extend your legs.  If the back of your body feels like it’s on fire, you’re doing it right! You'll return to land for your Dumbbell Hip Thrusters. Again, you’ll lie down, facing up. Bend your knees to form a triangle with the ground, and keep your feet flat on the floor. Load one or two medium or heavy dumbbells on your hips, and be careful to hold them in place.  With your shoulder blades firmly connected with the floor, engage your glutes and press your hips—weights and all—up toward the sky. (You’ve reached the top of the movement when you’ve straightened out your hip crease.) Drop your booty back to the floor, and repeat! It Takes Two In the second circuit of our workout, we’ll incorporate dumbbells into three Suspension Trainer exercises.  Don’t breathe a sigh of relief too soon: this isn’t a shorter series. Since these are single-side moves, you’ll have to complete them on both sides of your body. The exercises in this set are: TRX Dumbbell Power Pulls TRX Lunges with Dumbbells TRX Plank with Renegade Rows TRX Dumbbell Power Pulls For the TRX Dumbbell Power Pulls, adjust your straps to the fully shortened length. (Pro-tip: If you want to keep the free handle from swinging while you work, you can thread the free handle through the triangle of the handle you’re using.)  Start with the Suspension Trainer handle in your left hand, with your left elbow pulled back and tight to your body. Your left palm should be facing inward while holding the handle. In your right hand, you’ll be holding a light or medium dumbbell.   Keeping your body squared with your anchor point, extend your left arm completely straight, then pull the left elbow all the way back. As you pull the left elbow back, you’ll reach the right hand and dumbbell up toward the anchor point. When you release and extend the left arm, you’ll rotate the right hand and dumbbell out and back to your right side for an opener.  As you complete reps, maintain your plank: your ears, shoulders, hips, and ankles should all be in one line. After 45 seconds on the first side, take a fifteen second break, switch which hand is holding the Suspension Trainer handle, and which hand is holding the weight. TRX Lunges with Dumbbells Adjust your Suspension Trainer to the mid-calf length, and stand facing away from the anchor point. Place a medium dumbbell or set of dumbbells in front of you on the floor. Choose which foot you want to suspend, and thread that foot through both foot cradles. Pick up your weight or weights. If you choose two dumbbells, you’ll hold them at your sides, like you’re carrying a pair of suitcases. If you opt for a single dumbbell, hold it in front of your chest, under your collarbone. From your standing position, lower down on the planted, front leg to an almost-seated position, extending your suspended leg behind you. Then, pressing your front heel into the ground, drive up to straighten your front leg and return to your standing position.  Repeat for 45 seconds, then place your dumbbells on the ground and switch legs during your 15-second break. (If you need more than 15 seconds to transition safely, take your time.) TRX Plank with Renegade Rows We’re beefing up the TRX Plank by adding a Renegade Row using our TRX Dumbbells. Adjust your straps to mid-calf length and kneel facing away from the anchor point. Place a medium weight or weights at the top of your mat. Thread your feet through the foot cradles, and—using either your palms as your base or your TRX Dumbbells as handles—push up into a TRX Plank.  Whether you use the floor or a dumbbell as your base, one arm will remain straight, braced on the floor or dumbbell, while the other will rep out as many rows as possible for 45 seconds. Choose your rowing arm, and pull your dumbbell off the floor in a low-row motion—elbow tight to your ribs—while maintaining your TRX Plank. After 45 seconds, take a 15 second break and switch sides. This is an advanced move, so feel free to take breathers as needed during your 45-second active interval. If the traditional TRX Plank is too challenging, you can lower down to the floor, slide both of the foot cradles onto a single foot, and suspend only one leg while using your unsuspended foot as a kickstand on the floor. (Both legs will still be activated to support your plank and Renegade Row.) One of the many strengths of TRX Dumbbells is they can be paired with so many tools in the TRX lineup—such as the Suspension Trainer and Glute Bands— to create more challenging workouts.  Can you use TRX Dumbbells on their own? Absolutely! And you probably will. But when you’re ready to test the theory that two tools are better than one—when you’re ready to challenge yourself with more demanding workouts—these TRX Dumbbell exercises will help you unlock next-level strength potential. 

We’ve seen it all before—resistance band workouts (not to be confused with our Suspension Trainer™ workouts). Aka, those long stretchy exercise bands. Some are large circular loops. Some are straight flat elastic. And many have built-in handles. There are tons of options and they’re great for all-around training—and even sports rehabilitation or physical therapy—but the ones with handles are usually cumbersome and limited in use, while the non-handle resistance bands aren’t as effective as they could be because they—shocker—hurt the hands so much from the plastic digging into your palms. We created Strength Bands to offer folks a super effective, premium quality resistance band to level up anyone’s fitness from 5-150lbs. However, we’re always thinking beyond the status quo, so we asked ourselves—beyond making a superior product, how do we make resistance band training easier and more effective? THE PROBLEM: RESISTANCE TRAINING COULD BE BETTER Let’s go over a few things we love about Strength Band training and a few things we don’t love as much: WHAT WE LOVE Super portable (like having a whole weight rack, sans the weight) More time under tension means your muscles are constantly working Super versatile—use light bands for physical therapy or muscle activation/warmups; use long bands for sprinter drills, looping it around your waist; use heavy bands for full-body moves like back squats An overall really awesome way to strength train WHAT WE DON’T LOVE Holding the band is super uncomfortable—the plastic pinches and digs into your palms, especially with heavier resistance, making it really difficult to load up with more weight When you can’t load up with more weight, it’s harder to get the most out of your workout moves It’s challenging to get your hand in the right position THE SOLUTION: TRX® BANDIT HANDLE Always the innovator, TRX® founder Randy Hetrick first came up with the idea for a resistance band removable handle that was 1) super familiar and recognizable in design, 2) super comfortable, and 3) arguably the most important—easy to put on and take off (and of course, have it be intuitive to do so). The end result is our all-new product, the TRX BANDIT™   HOW IT’LL REINVENT THE WAY YOU TRAIN  Here’s what makes the TRX BANDIT™ a must-have in your training kit:  Adding a handle opens up a plethora of moves and weights you couldn't achieve before Better comfort, control, and performance More strength, endurance, and mobility moves Instantly recognizable handle design—no strange or clunky designs here Lightweight and small enough to fit in a backpack (or purse) with your Strength Bands Durable materials you can count on  Textured rubber coating so your grip won’t slip Simple lengthwise gap lets you easily snap on a Strength Band or two Once the Strength Band rests inside the handle, it stays put To use it, just make sure the gap faces opposite whichever way you’re using the band Oh and FYI—we have TRX Bandit-specific workouts and getting-started vids on our all-new TRX Training Club℠ app. Signing up is the easiest way to work out with your new Bandit handles.  HOW IT’LL REINVENT THE WAY YOU TRAIN  Here’s what makes the TRX BANDIT™ a must-have in your training kit:  Adding a handle opens up a plethora of moves and weights you couldn't achieve before Better comfort, control, and performance More strength, endurance, and mobility moves Instantly recognizable handle design—no strange or clunky designs here Lightweight and small enough to fit in a backpack (or purse) with your Strength Bands Durable materials you can count on  Textured rubber coating so your grip won’t slip Simple lengthwise gap lets you easily snap on a Strength Band or two Once the Strength Band rests inside the handle, it stays put To use it, just make sure the gap faces opposite whichever way you’re using the band Oh and FYI—we have TRX Bandit-specific workouts and getting-started vids on our all-new TRX Training Club℠ app. Signing up is the easiest way to work out with your new Bandit handles. 

Countdown begins to National Fitness Day, 22 September: Tanni Grey-Thompson says UK must go for gold in global physical activity rankings Paralympic champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has issued a rallying cry for the UK to become the most active nation in the world by 2030, as she marked the 28-day countdown to National Fitness Day. ukactive has announced that National Fitness Day 2021 will take place on Wednesday 22 September and will be supported by TRX Training Club, helping to reach more people than ever. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the campaign, which for the past decade has helped millions of people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to find or rediscover a fitness activity they love. The theme for 2021 is ‘Fitness Unites Us’ and the day will see thousands of free and inclusive events available for anyone to try – both in person and virtually – thanks to gyms, pools, leisure centres and other sports providers across the UK. In a study of global exercise levels published in the Lancet, the World Health Organization ranked Britain as 46th out of 168 countries in its league table, but Baroness Grey-Thompson hopes the nation will use the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for improvement. The Crossbench Peer and Chair of ukactive said the Government should embrace National Fitness Day and make the nation’s fitness its number-one priority as millions of people reflect on their activity levels following the health crisis. Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Chair of ukactive, said: “The past year has taught us many lessons but none more important than caring for our health and wellbeing, and that of our neighbour.“The global pandemic has underlined how essential our fitness is, not only for our physical and mental health but also for our social and emotional wellbeing.         “I love National Fitness Day and this year offers the perfect opportunity to unite behind a collective ambition to become the most physically active nation in the world by 2030. “The Government must make fitness its main priority for the nation’s recovery, because by being more active we not only have the chance to improve our mental and physical health, but to improve our resilience to COVID-19 and reduce the burden on the NHS. “National Fitness Day is also a time to celebrate the essential role of every gym, pool, leisure centre, sports club and activity provider in the UK, and their incredible teams that will continue to motivate and support us safely. Let’s come together to celebrate and share what fitness means to us, and to commit to being more physically active.” Brent Leffel, CEO of TRX, said: “Our mission is to make fitness inclusive for all, enabling people to exercise anywhere, anytime. National Fitness Day celebrates exactly that, and we are delighted to play our part in getting the nation moving. “Whether it’s virtual or in person, and no matter the intensity, there is something for everyone!” With 25 days to go until National Fitness Day, ukactive is encouraging people to share their fitness motivations on social media by using the popular hashtag #Fitness2Me. As the countdown continues, the National Fitness Day Activity Finder will help people to discover nearby events hosted by more than 4,000 ukactive members across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.   REGISTER NOW  

When you’re a yoga newbie, finding your balance is a struggle. As the instructor gracefully transitions through swan-like movements standing on one foot, you’re precariously wobbling like a newborn colt. In those moments when you fall, it’s tempting to give up, but the TRX Suspension Trainer can help you build better balance to improve your yoga routine.   The Suspension Trainer is designed to be a tool that anybody can use, regardless of their level of strength. Many popular TRX Suspension Trainer exercises can be more accessible versions of advanced bodyweight exercises: for example: a TRX Chest Press can be a lighter-weight alternative to a pushup and a TRX Single Leg Squat can be the stepping stone to a bodyweight pistol squat. Similarly, the Suspension Trainer can help stabilise yoga poses while your body adjusts to learning a pose, kind of like training wheels for fitness. How do you translate yoga poses on a mat to TRX exercises on the straps? Fortunately, you don’t have to figure it out on your own, because there’s a team of yogis, like Shauna Harrison and Krystal Say, who have developed yoga programming specifically for the Suspension Trainer. From backbends to crow pose, Warrior III to handstands, the TRX Suspension Trainer can offer extra support for flexibility to help you take your yoga to the next level when your body is ready. Think of the Suspension Trainer just like any other prop you might find in a yoga studio. “I think the TRX is an amazing prop for yoga,” Harrison said. “Inasmuch as the block, straps and yoga hammocks (for aerial yoga) are props, the TRX Suspension Trainer is really another tool for us to use.” From backbends to crow pose, Warrior III to handstands, the TRX Suspension Trainer can offer extra support for flexibility to help you take your yoga to the next level when your body is ready. Think of the Suspension Trainer just like any other prop you might find in a yoga studio. “I think the TRX is an amazing prop for yoga,” Harrison said. “Inasmuch as the block, straps and yoga hammocks (for aerial yoga) are props, the TRX Suspension Trainer is really another tool for us to use.”

Suspension Training® Pioneer Created a State-of-the-Art Virtual Training Platform to Provide Consumers with Access to World Class TRX Trainers Anytime, Anywhere. TRX®, the global leader in functional training products and world-class training content, has added to its most comprehensive fitness solution to date, the TRX Training Club®. TRX has introduced a brand new ‘REPLAY’ feature, allowing users to catch up on missed live classes by doing them in their own time. Whether it’s taking a live class you couldn’t make the first time around, or re-doing a session you loved, there is more flexibility than ever to do your favourite live classes via the REPLAY function. TRX’s proprietary digital platform provides users with a dynamic, multi-faceted training experience with unlimited on-demand workouts and live classes, access to TRX personal trainers, and exclusive member discounts on TRX products. All members need is a TRX SuspensionTrainer and a TRX Training Club membership and they will immediately be able to experience the training benefits of TRX anywhere, anytime. “The fitness category has significantly transformed over the past year, and consumers at every level want to be able to work out on their own time and in their own way, and we are excited to offer just that with the TRX Training Club. For consumers who want to train at home, outside, or really anywhere, we developed the TRX Training Club to provide a comprehensive and dynamic solution for experiencing the incredible benefits of training with TRX,” said TRX Founder, Randy Hetrick. TRX Training Club provides a seamless “one-stop-shop” solution, enabling consumers to fully experience TRX like never before, with numerous features, including: ●  TRX On-Demand Workouts: Users can work out in their own way, on their schedule. Content includes an ever-growing library of workouts across categories of start, strong, sweat, recovery and body part specific sessions, all in numerous durations. Users can enjoy these workouts on their own time and can replay as desired. ●  TRX LIVE Classes: Live group classes offered every day across different training categories will provide participants the energy of a group fitness class with expert TRX instructors who bring their own signature and motivating style to each and every class. ●  Virtual Personal Training: Access world-class TRX trainers through a private booking system for one-on-one, two-way interactive training sessions specifically matched to individual users needs and interests. ● Exclusive TRX Training Club Member Benefits: Special members-only gear discounts, early access to new product launches, unique education opportunities and much more. TRX Training Club On-Demand workouts and TRX LIVE classes are offered across different categories to meet any fitness need: ●  STRONG: Boost muscle and endurance with a blend of strength and plyo moves that will build lean muscle the quickest way possible getting consumers ready for their next challenge. ●  SWEAT: Get ready to sweat. These circuit-style workouts build overall speed and power allowing consumers to make their next cardio session even stronger than the last. ●  START: The ultimate starting point to any fitness journey. Create a foundation of strength and stability through safe, efficient, and effective ways that build the body at a challenging but approachable level. ●  RECOVER: Level up the versatility game with TRX’s Recover sessions. Improve mobility, regulate the nervous system, and regenerate the body faster to elevate performance in TRX LIVE and beyond. TRX Training Club trainers are an expert team of domestic and international trainers with decades of professional experience to guide and elevate users to be their best and strongest self. Niko Algieri, TRX Director of Trainer Branding, leads the UK based trainer team from the TRX Live Studio in London. With programs to meet every fitness goal, level, and schedule, the TRX Training Club is truly a game changer for those who want to take their fitness to the next level - anywhere, any time. Users can experience the TRX Training Club on the exclusive “Live Player,” available within the platform via web experience from your desktop/laptop computers as well as TRX’s mobile app, which can be found on Apple App Store, Google Play, and Samsung store. The platform also enables consumer access to TRX’s online store to purchase training equipment, activewear and additional virtual training classes and sessions. The TRX Training Club is currently being offered from £5.99 per month with a seven-day free trial to try before you buy - available here. There are on-demand only membership options, whilst single LIVE classes are also available for £10 per class. Virtual Personal Training is available upon request. For more information on the TRX Training Club and TRX’s exceptional lineup of Functional Training products, including TRX HOME2 SYSTEM, TRX Pro4 and Functional Training Tool.

TRX®, the global leader in functional training products and world-class training content, has extended its partnership with leading health and fitness industry training provider, Premier Global NASM. With over 50 years combined experience developing leading health and fitness professionals, the education provided by Premier Global NASM helps set students up for success in the industry with a scientific and evidence-based training system.  Many go on to work in the best gyms and become renowned private personal trainers, nutrition and fitness coaches - forging successful careers and enterprises throughout the health and wellness industry. Fraser Quelch, TRX Founding Partner, commented: "I am so excited about our new alignment with Premier Global NASM for 2022! I can’t imagine a more powerful way to change lives and move the world than by bringing two of the most respected brands in training and education together in a partnership unlike any other. This is going to be amazing!” The new “TRX Master Trainer” bundle being sold by Premier Global NASM includes: TRX Pro4 Suspension Trainer TRX Suspension Training Course TRX Sports Medicine Suspension Training Course TRX for Yoga Foundations TRX Virtual Training Course Dan Rees, Managing Director at Premier Global NASM, says: “Suspension Training offers an almost limitless catalogue of full body training options that can be coached anywhere, inside or out, making its inclusion the perfect addition to any personal trainer’s knowledge and skill arsenal. Most gyms and training spaces now offer TRX, so understanding how to optimise the training system will provide personal trainers with a professional advantage, making them a valuable addition to any fitness operation. “We have worked with TRX for many years on various projects, so it is fantastic to now be able to add this official training bundle to our education portfolio.” For more information, visit: www.premierglobal.co.uk/fitness-cpd-courses/trx-master-trainer-bundle

Mary: From frozen shoulder to fit & fierce   After nearly 3 years of surgeries and setbacks, TRX Training Club® member Mary returns to form with a ferociously funny wit and talks to us about injuries, adversity, and strength. At first glance, it appears that Mary is either on the precipice of revealing a deeply guarded secret, or withholding a perfectly timed joke. Both are true. She’s sitting in the crook of a deep sofa, swishing the champagne in her glass back and forth. The walls of the grand, ornate room we’re in are full of colour and art and beautiful clutter, but Mary looks only at me, a smile animating her entire face. Her hair is curly and short, and it waves with every laugh, which is often. Her glass of champagne rests atop her thigh, her eyes momentarily looking down at it, studying its bubbles as she collects her thoughts. There’s a flurry of activity to our right—a woman in bright red tights has rushed in. A set of TRX Suspension Trainer™ straps dangle from her purse. Mary immediately stands, shrugs apologetically toward me, and runs to greet her friend, their bodies colliding in a mad, ecstatic rush. A few minutes later, she sits back down. “I’m so nervous,” she says at the start of our conversation. “I haven’t really spoken about this. Oh geez, where do I start?” She laughs, a joke that only she knows reverberating in her head, and takes another sip of her drink. I know what she’s thinking—it’s a miracle she’s where she is now, working out multiple times a week and thriving. But, we both know it’s not a miracle.  In 2018, Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer. She started chemotherapy within two weeks of finding out, but this was only the start of her treatment—within 3 months she’d have a double mastectomy, then go on to radiation treatment, and multiple other reconstructive surgeries. In total, she would have 6 surgeries in the span of a couple years. When she first began chemo, one of her first questions was about physical activity. “I asked my oncologist, ‘So what should I be doing with chemo, should I do hot yoga? He told me, ‘Maybe take a break from sweaty people sweating germs.’”  Mary would be the first to tell you that exercise is not her thing. An enjoyer of tennis, with some cross country sprinkled in during high school (“It wrecked my knees”), by the time college rolled around, Mary didn’t pursue anything athletic. “I got great at beer pong,” she joked, “my hand eye coordination skills were GREAT.” Eventually, she discovered yoga and reformer pilates, which she felt were more her speed. The targeted, deep muscular work and focus on breathing helped alleviate some pains she experienced during both of her pregnancies, particularly her back and hips. Her dedication to yoga was so great, it was the first time she felt sad to give up an activity during her treatment phases, and it was the first activity she pursued when she finally received clearance for fitness in February 2020.  Then, the pandemic hit. In her immunocompromised state, everything was off the table except for home workouts, but yoga on her own wasn’t feeling as good as before—Mary had been struggling with two frozen shoulders for quite awhile that severely limited her mobility. 6-8 months of physical therapy didn’t fully alleviate the situation. This coupled with her multiple surgeries left her feeling weak, unsure how to move forward, or move at all. “I had lost sooo much muscle tone. I felt really, really fragile. My husband would say to our kids, ‘We have to be careful with mommy.’ I didn’t have anyone to guide me.” An expression of sorrow briefly washes across Mary’s porcelain face before the witty twinkle returns. Mary likes to keep it light. She told me that a fortuitous opportunity presented itself when an old friend invited her to try a new workout—TRX Training Club®. Mary was against it at first and balked at her friend. “I don’t think you understand,” she joked. “I’m coming off 18 months of doing nothing, two frozen shoulders… the worst one? That’ll be me. I’m literally starting from ground zero.” All joking aside, Mary had some valid concerns. She finally relented, figuring she had nothing to lose. As it turned out, she had everything to gain. And it was life-changing. Within 3 months Mary was taking LIVE classes 3 days a week. Within 6 months, she performed her first pushup with a targeted On Demand workout. Within a year, she attempted, and succeeded at her first complete handstand—an incredible feat for anyone, let alone someone who had endured what she had. Before using her Suspension Training® straps and being guided by expert trainer Niko Algieri through the app, Mary couldn’t perform a single pushup. Mary shook her head ruefully at the memory.  “I had been doing physical therapy for my shoulder for 8 months—I even had a cortisone shot—but I wanted to supplement that work with more traditional strength moves. I was so afraid of pushups, that movement was so scary for me. With the TRX, I realised I could adjust weight on the fly. The straps let you slowly adjust the weight. It was a literal support system for me. And I could CONTROL that support.”  The increased strength and mobility was a boon for Mary’s confidence, but what also impressed her was the ability to perform and regain her yoga skills on the Suspension Trainer™—something she had missed greatly since her pre-pandemic, pre-cancer days. “I couldn’t do a lot of yoga because I didn’t have mobility anymore and I was afraid of falling, but with the straps, I could support my weight in Camel Pose. It’s a very, very vulnerable pose if you don’t have the strength to lean on your shoulders. But with the straps I slowly built up my ability and range of motion until I could do it fully. It was like having a safety net.” Throughout the conversation, Mary’s expression oscillates from seriousness to sassiness in a flash, a lightness that belies the many challenges she overcame. A stranger might think she diminishes her own experience, someone who doesn’t give her struggles the gravitas they “deserve.” Mary doesn’t believe in this. “What they don’t tell you about survivorship is that you focus so much on what you can do… that it becomes your world. There’s not a lot you can control, but I can control my strength, my focus, my mental health. I choose to be constructive in a really destructive time.” Mary travels a lot for her line of work as a high-powered executive, which makes her all the more thankful for her Suspension Trainer™ straps—they pack easily in a bag and all she has to do is hang them over a hotel room door and flip on the app. Her favourite move? Pistol Squats. She can barely believe it, either. Excited, she motions me a little closer. “I got a towel hickey from doing a plank on the hotel floor with the straps.” She bites her lip, clamping shut what’s bound to be a loud laugh. Mary loves to tell a good story. “I’m definitely the funny, self-deprecating jokester of my friends,” she says.  But what about tracking? I ask. TRX Training Club® is highly functional but utilitarian—it specialises in workouts that truly work, and amazing, one-of-a-kind trainers who guide you, both of which it does exceptionally well. “A lot of people are really into smart tech,” I say. Mary tells me she prefers to track meaningful progress, like doing 10 pushups when before she could do none. When I ask her about fitness trackers and activity monitors, Mary snorts, waves a hand lazily in the air, bringing us back full circle with a sidelong gaze, humour twinkling in her eye.  “Those people aren’t fun at parties,” she quips. 

TRX Live Trainer Tom Cuff-Burnett learned how to gut and fillet a mackerel on a beach in Cornwall, thanks to his mum. Trainer Rae Clarke says her mother taught her how to be kind to herself and others. Trainer Amber Pierson appreciates her mum driving her cross-country for dance shows as a kid, and continuing to make her tea in bed every morning to this day. There are so many reasons to appreciate mothers, so we asked some of our favourite TRX trainers to share what makes their own mothers so special. Great Advice At some point, you’ve probably turned to your mum for advice, whether you needed guidance  navigating a specific issue or just some general encouragement in life. Part of a mama’s magic is passing along words of wisdom and life lessons. For Rae, that advice was “Get rid of the drainers in your life and have more radiators.” Tom says his mum told him, “Never apologise for having high standards.” Amber’s mom reminded her, “Why be average, when you can be legendary?” Motherly advice can be inspiring, but it can also be an expression of love. Trainer Michael Keeney says his mother told him, “There is nothing you can do that would make me not love you. You could murder someone—and I’d expect you to go to jail—but I wouldn't stop loving you. Be who you are.” Leading By Example Mothers help shape their children into who they will become by setting an early example—both in critical moments when they know their kids are watching and in day-to-day life. For our TRX Live trainers, those ordinary moments were often the most formative. Tom describes his mum as “a true force of nature: inspirational, independent, intelligent, and fierce.” Rae says, “I love my mum because she’s always thinking of others and being kind. No matter how busy her life is, she’s always thinking of me and always there for me.”  Unconditional love. Sage advice. Selfless support.  Our mothers give us the best of themselves—and graciously tolerate our moody teenage years. On Mother’s Day, we shower our mums with flowers and gifts, but a thoughtful message can be just as meaningful. Whether you’ve sent a card or not, there’s still time to thank your mother for all she’s done!