Best TRX Exercises: Finding the Perfect TRX Exercises for You
Whether you are a gym expert looking to mix up your workouts or just a beginner wondering what the yellow straps at the gym are all about, this list of the best TRX exercises will offer a great way to tone and strengthen your muscles. If you know the right exercises, you can get a whole-body workout with the TRX straps.
This list of the best TRX exercises will feature 38 different TRX exercises that you can try out and add to your workout plan. Whether you want to train a specific muscle group, add some variety to your workout, or whatever, this list of TRX exercises will have you covered.
Also, these make a great home training tool as well, so it has never been easier to get a great home workout than with the TRX straps. And while each exercise has a recommended difficulty level, the great thing about TRX exercises is that most of them can be adjusted for all levels of fitness enthusiasts. All you need to do is change the angle of your body one way or the other to make an exercise easier or more challenging.
Once you view all of these TRX exercises, make sure that you visit our list of the best fitness supplements, the best men’s supplements, and the best women’s supplements. These lists will allow you to make sure that you are taking care of your body both inside and out.
38 TRX Exercises You Need to Try:
1. Plank TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Abs and Core
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: The TRX plank is going to look very similar to a traditional core exercise called the plank. Instead of placing your feet on the ground, though, you are going to place your feet in the straps. The straps are going to force you to stabilize your movements and will help to develop your whole core. With this exercise, make sure you keep your back straight and control your breathing.
2. Single-Leg Plank TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Abs and Core
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: This exercise is going to take the TRX plank a little bit further and make it more difficult. The single-leg TRX plank is going to have you place one foot in the strap and then hold the other one off of the ground without a strap.
Doing this is going to force your core to work extra hard because it must hold up the entire weight of the leg that is not in the strap as well. When doing this exercise, remember to work both sides for the same amount of time and focus on good form.
3. Body Saw TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Abs and Core
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: The body saw exercise is another advanced version of the TRX plank. You will start by placing both feet in the straps similar to the plank. This time though, instead of staying stationary, you will rock back and forth in a saw-like motion. This saw motion is going to allow you to isolate your upper and lower abs and force your core to work. Like most of these exercises, it is important that you use nice controlled movements as you are doing this exercise.
4. Ab Crunch TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Abs and Core
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: Crunches will never be the same after doing them with the TRX straps. The added isolation of having to do them with your feet in the straps will challenge your core and allow you to isolate your six-pack for a great crunch. Remember to monitor your breathing and don’t allow your back to sag as you come down into the plank position.
5. Oblique Crunch TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Obliques and Core
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: Similar to the above ab crunch, this time, instead of bringing both knees straight forward, you are going to twist and bring them to either your right or left side, alternating each time. Executing this motion is going to be great for both your abs and obliques. It will allow you to be able to tone and strengthen your whole core area.
6. Mountain Climber TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Abs and Core
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: The mountain climber exercise is another exercise on this list that can be done without the TRX straps. With the TRX straps, though, it is a complete game-changer. You will start by putting a foot in each strap and then rising up into the push-up position.
From here, you are going to alternate, bringing your knees forward and backward towards your chest. The goal is to keep a nice smooth pace the whole time. Also, lock in on keeping your back straight and controlling your breathing as you go.
7. Pike Press TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Abs and Core
Difficulty Level: Expert
About TRX Exercise: The pike press is going to give you another great option to tone and strengthen your abdominal muscles. Your starting position is going to be feet in the straps and in a push-up position.
To execute the exercise, you will bring both feet in towards your hands, causing your butt to pike up in the air and then lower them back down. A big key to this exercise is focusing on controlling the speed of your movements. You want to have a nice smooth motion every time.
8. Side Plank with Hip Drop TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Obliques and Core
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: This is one of the best TRX exercises for toning and strengthening your obliques. You will be able to strengthen, tone, and work on getting rid of those ever-persistent love handles. This exercise can be done with a couple of different variations.
You can go down and up at a consistent pace looking to get a high number of reps. Or, you can go up, hold for a count of 5 seconds, and then go back down. Both are great, so mix it up when you do this exercise.
9. Side Plank with Reach TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Obliques and Core
Difficulty Level: Expert
About TRX Exercise: Another excellent oblique exercise, the reach-through on this side plank, is also going to help work on your abs as well. You will get that side crunch movement that will help to tighten up and firm your overall core. This is a little bit more of an advanced exercise, though. So make sure that you are locking in on the correct form when doing it.
10. Oblique Leg Raise TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Obliques and Core
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: For this oblique exercise, you are going to be lying on your back and holding the TRX straps with your hands. This will help to stabilize you as you rotate your legs from side to side. As you do this exercise, really focus on having a nice controlled motion and movement with your legs. Think smooth instead of jerky motions.
11. Supine Runner TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Abs and Core
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: Using the TRX handles to help stabilize yourself, you are going to lay flat on your back with your feet off the ground about 6-8 inches. One leg is going to straight out while the other is going to be bent towards your chest at a 90-degree angle. At the same time, you are going to alternate leg positions. Keep this pattern going back and forth and really focus on keeping your core tight as you do.
12. Standing Rollout TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Abs and Core
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: The standing rollout is going to allow you to isolate your ab muscles as you extend your hands over your head. The more of an angle you do the exercise at the more you will challenge your core muscles. A big key for this exercise is making sure that you keep your back straight. Don’t allow your back to sag as you go forward and come back.
13. Kneeling Rollout TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Abs and Core
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: A variation of the above standing rollout, the kneeling rollout is going to work the same muscles. Doing this exercise from your knees, though, will help to create a slightly different angle. Also, using your knees allows you to only put a portion of your weight into play. This will give you more control as you execute the rollout motion.
14. Sit-Up TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Abs and Core
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: Want to make sit-ups more of a challenge? Add TRX cables, and you will be working your core muscles better than ever. This is not a groundbreaking new exercise, but by placing your heels in the straps, you add a new level of difficulty. You are going to be able to isolate your abdominal muscles as you sit up and lower yourself back down.
15. Supine Plank with Pull-Through TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Lower Back and Shoulders
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: Basically, a reverse plank, this is one of the best TRX exercises for strengthening your lower back and shoulders, among other secondary muscles. You can do this with a pause at the top (usually 5 seconds or so) or look to get as many reps as you can by smoothly going back and forth between the reverse plank and pull through.
16. Hip Hinge Stretch TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Lower Back and Shoulders
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: If you have lower back issues or tight hips, you are welcome for this hip stretch. The TRX cables are going to allow you to be able to stretch your lower back and open up your hips. Just place your hands on the handles, find a good angle, and then lean forward, allowing your back to elongate between the lowering of your hips and your hands on the TRX handles.
17. Lower Back Stretch TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Lower Back and Shoulders
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: This lower back stretch is going to allow you to get your lower back nice and loose. You can hold a stretch position rotating to either side or allow yourself to rock back and forth slowly. All you have to do is pick a good angle and then allow your body weight to do the rest as you hold onto the handles.
18. Torso Rotation Stretch TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Midsection, Lower Back, Core
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: With this stretch, you are going to be able to stretch your whole midsection. As you rotate, you will be able to feel your lower back, obliques, and abdominal muscles elongate. This is a great exercise to do before or after some of the different ab exercises on this list. You will be able to get loose before, and also make sure that you are stretched out and relaxed after.
19. Lower Deltoid Pull TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Deltoids
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: This is one of the best TRX exercises to develop toned and strong shoulder muscles. It will isolate the deltoid muscle and allow you to really develop your shoulder muscles. Depending on the angle of your body, you can increase or decrease the difficulty of the exercise. When you do this exercise, really lock in on having good form and a smooth motion as you pull yourself up and lower yourself down.
20. Lower Deltoid Fly TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Deltoids
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: This exercise is very similar to the above deltoid pull exercise. The deltoid fly, though, will allow you to come at the shoulder muscles with a slightly different angle. This exercise is also going to allow you to isolate your traps as well. So really make sure that you are pinching your shoulder blades together as you pull your arms down and back.
21. Split Deltoid Fly TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Deltoids
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: Another version of the deltoid fly, this exercise is going to have you split the straps as you pull yourself up. One arm will go straight up over your head, and the other will go straight down by your waist. You will alternate hands each time and stand with a slightly staggered stance as you do the exercise. The way you lower yourself back down can be just as beneficial as how you pull yourself up. So make sure that you lower yourself down under control.
22. Power Pull TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Upper Back and Core
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: Along with strengthening your upper back, the power pull is also a good core workout, as you will need to keep your core tight the entire time. One arm exercises are also great because they help to eliminate imbalances. Doing everything with two arms, you may have one of your arms compensating for the other. To make this exercise easier or more difficult, simply adjust the angle of your body. The straighter up you are standing, the easier it will be.
23. Mid Row TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Upper Back, Shoulders, Biceps
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: The mid-row is going to be great for toning and improving the strength in your upper back. Along with the shoulders and upper back, you will also be training your bicep muscles as well. When doing this, exercise really focus on controlling your movements and your breathing. Also, find a body angle that is going to challenge you but will also allow you to practice great form.
24. Single Arm Mid Row TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Upper Back
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: The single-arm mid-row is another one of the best TRX exercises for your upper back. It will have you move forward and backward on the same plane without any rotations. Using only one arm at a time is going to allow you to really isolate your upper back and shoulder muscles.
Also, it will help with preventing muscle imbalances. When doing two-arm exercises, the stronger arm sometimes overcompensates. With single-arm exercises, though, you help to eliminate that.
25. Chest Fly Offset Stance TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Chest
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: Sticking with the upper body but switching over to the chest, this TRX exercise is going to be great for isolating your pectoral muscles. With a staggered stance, you are going to grab the handles so that your chest is facing away from the straps.
From here, you will determine the body angle that you want (level of difficulty). After that, you are going to smoothly lower yourself forward, spreading your arms out as you do. You will bring yourself back up by bringing your hands back together. For an excellent chest exercise, try the TRX chest fly.
26. Chest Press Inside Grip TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Chest, Shoulders, Triceps
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: This exercise is going to help to develop the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. You can also consider it a core workout as well if your angle is sharp enough. To do this exercise, place your hands in the handles, position your chest away from the straps, and then imitate a leaning push up. The sharper the angle, the more difficult it will be.
27. Tricep Press TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Triceps
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: You can’t forget about arms when you go to the gym, and we didn’t forget arms when we put this list together either. This is one of the best TRX exercises for focusing solely on the tricep muscle. It will allow you to tone and create a long, lean tricep muscle. Be warned, though; this exercise is going to have you wanting to wear more tank tops and sleeveless shirts.
28. Tricep Kickback TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Triceps
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: This exercise is going to allow you to develop a nice long, lean-looking tricep muscle. The TRX straps are going to allow you to really be able to isolate your triceps. Also, you will be able to better work until failure. As you experience muscle fatigue, simply adjust the angle of your body. This allows for a better burnout of your tricep muscles.
29. Bicep Curl TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Biceps
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: “Suns out guns out” is going to be your new favorite saying after this TRX bicep curl exercise. Because of being able to increase or decrease the angle of the exercise, you will be able to find the perfect level of difficulty. As you progress through the sets and reps and start to get fatigued, you will also be able to adjust your body angle. This will allow you always to keep yourself challenged.
30. Single-Leg Squat Jump TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Quads, Hamstrings, Glutes, Calves
Difficulty Level: Expert
About TRX Exercise: This is one of the best TRX exercises for developing explosiveness and balance. The foot in the TRX handle is going to allow you to have some fluidity in your movements. This will enable you to be able to jump and be explosive without using your other leg.
A couple of keys to this exercise are making sure that your front knee does not extend out past your toes when you squat down and then making sure that you are landing nice and balanced as you come down from the jump.
31. Forward Lunge TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Quads, Hamstrings, Glutes
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: This TRX leg exercise is perfect for isolating one leg at a time. This is great for balance, muscle stabilization, and making sure that your dominant leg isn’t overcompensating as it can sometimes do when doing two-legged exercises. When doing this exercise, really focus on proper form. Don’t allow your front knee to go out past your toes or allow it to shift from side to side as you drop down into your lunge squat.
32. Overhead Squat TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Legs, Back
Difficulty Level: Beginner
About TRX Exercise: Doing an overhead squat with a barbell can be tough on your back and shoulders, especially if you don’t have great form. With the TRX straps, you can get this same motion without a heavy weight up over your head. This leg and back exercise is going to allow you to push and challenge yourself with the overhead squat exercise, and you can do it with peace of mind.
33. Pistol Squat TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Quads, Hamstrings, Glutes
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: A pistol squat on its own can be challenging even for the advanced fitness enthusiast. By adding the TRX straps, though, you can decide how much assistance you need when lowering yourself down and coming back up. This is great for both beginners and experts.
Beginners will be able to give themselves support when mastering the pistol squat, while experts will be able to knock out a high number of repetitions and use assistance as needed.
34. Cross Lunge TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Quads, Hamstrings, Glutes
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: Working the leg muscles from a different angle can be a game-changer. This cross lunge exercise is going to do just that as you bring one of your feet back and behind your other foot. The movement is going to work leg muscles you never knew you had before.
And, with the TRX straps, you can choose how much or how little help you want as you go down and up. If you are looking to isolate specific muscles in your legs, this is one of the best TRX exercises to use.
35. Side Lunge TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Quads, Hamstrings, Glutes
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: The TRX exercise is basically an assisted side lunge. The TRX straps are going to allow you to be able to practice proper form while you do the exercise. Even if you already have great form, though, this can be a great exercise. The TRX straps can be used to increase the number of repetitions you can do. So if you are looking to do a high rep TRX leg workout that is faster-paced, give this exercise a try.
36. Lunge with Hop TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Quads, Hamstrings, Glutes, Calves
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: This exercise is great for athletes and non-athletes alike. It is going to allow you to develop your overall legs while also improving your fast-twitch muscles and explosiveness. The TRX straps are going to work as an assistance tool and will help you to get higher off of the ground on your hop. When doing this exercise, really lock in on great form and the landing each time softly. This will help to increase the benefits of the exercise and also protect your knees.
37. Hip Press TRX Exercise
Primary Muscles Worked: Glutes, Lower Back, Core
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
About TRX Exercise: Very similar to a shoulder bridge bodyweight exercise, this hip press exercise is going to allow you to really isolate your glutes, hamstrings, and hips using the TRX straps. You will be able to keep your heels elevated the whole time, but also have some fluidity in the movement.
The straps are going to be able to raise up even further as you press your hips up as high as you can. For this exercise, you can either go up and down with a nice fluid motion or hold at the top for a set amount of time.
TRX Exercises Conclusion