Resistance bands are a portable, light and convenient fitness tool. They are small and light enough to take with you when traveling. You can work out both your upper and lower body muscles with resistance bands. Resistance bands come in several colors. The color represents the level of resistance the band offers. Colors vary across manufacturers, but in general, the lighter the band, the less resistance.
Yellow
Yellow is the lightest, thinnest band. It offers a very small amount of resistance and is good for those brand-new to working out and for rehabilitation exercises. If you have a shoulder injury, the yellow band can be used to perform rotator cuff exercises. Workout novices find the yellow band to be adequate resistance for isolation exercises, such as bicep curls and lateral shoulder raises.
Green and Red
Green is usually the resistance level that follows yellow. However, some manufacturers flip red and green, making red the second level after yellow. For beginners, these medium-resistance bands offer enough tension for large muscle exercises, such as chest presses and back rows. Advanced exercisers can use the green and red bands for small muscle exercises, including shoulder presses, ab crunches and bicep curls. When you anchor a band with your feet, the higher you press it overhead, the more it stretches and the more tension you create. Use a lighter band when doing overhead exercises, such as triceps extensions and shoulder presses. You can advance to a stronger band, if needed.
Blue and Black
These bands are in the heavy resistance category. Blue is generally the lighter of the two. Blue and black bands are used for compound exercises that work more than one muscle. Exercises such as chest presses, rows and squats require more resistance than isolation exercises. Advanced, stronger exercisers may use these bands for isolation exercises, including triceps press-downs and bicep curls.
Silver
Silver is the heaviest band. Not all manufacturers offer a silver band. The silver band is used for exercises that require significant resistance. Because the lower body is generally stronger than the supper body, most exercisers can use relatively heavy weight on exercises such as squats and lunges. A silver band provides this level of tension. Using the silver band for overhead exercises is generally not a good idea, as the band's strong tension makes holding it overhead difficult.
Member Comments