Lifeline Jungle Gym XT Body Weight Suspension Trainer System – Patented Split Anchor, Full-Body Workout, Lightweight Home Suspension Training Kit for Home Gym, Workout Equipment

OverviewThe Jungle Gym XT is a versitile, portable, durable piece of equipment, it is good for home workouts and can be adapted to work with P90X style routines.Because you are working against gravity with your own body-weight you get a very natural workout that can be very challenging. The Jungle Gym XT could be used on it’s own for a full body workout but through my experience works best when incorporated into an exercise routine with free weights, resistance bands, machines and other body-weight exercises.Pro’s & Con’s of the Jungle Gym XT-Pro-Extremely durable & well built-Pro-Compatible with resistance bands/free weights/body-weight exercises/P90X-Pro-Improves core strength & overall conditioning-Pro-Cheaper than other suspension trainers but just as good (or better)-Pro-Foot Loops are more easily accessible than other suspension trainers-Con-Portable but not as portable as TRX brand-Con-Does not come with a mounting kit, but a door frame/tree/pull-up bar/etc, would workThe Exercises-Core exercises such as knee tucks will work your core better than traditional crunches or sit ups because your legs are suspended as you control your bodies weight in motion. Or you could plant your feet on the ground and suspended your upper body for oblique twists.-Leg exercises such as the 1 legged lunge or 1 legged squat are good, but you need balance and coordination and a basic level of fitness to perform. This is also a good warmup exercise for weight training exercises like squats and leg presses.-The hamstring curl is a good leg exercise that also works your core in addition to your hamstrings.-Back exercises such as rows and pull-ups work perfectly on the Jungle Gym XT and the possibilites are endless as you can change your hands position, your bodies elevation, and the width of the handles.-Chest exercises (and dips) are difficult on the Jungle Gym XT because you have to stabilize your body as you press up which is challenging but works the stablilizer muscles well. (If you cannot do push-ups off the ground I would not recommend the Jungle Gym XT pushups as they are more difficult).-Both bicep curls and triceps extensions are great on the Jungle Gym XT, the closer you get to the ground the harder the exercise gets.-Shoulder pulls and rear deltoid lateral raises on the Jungle Gym XT are good exercises but I prefer resistance bands and dumbbells as it feels more natural. If you can work up to hand stand push-ups this is a serious shoulder building exercise but is not for the novice exerciser.In ConclusionThe Jungle Gym XT on it’s own can get old quickly if you use it regularly on it’s own, but when used in conjunction with other forms of exercise such as resistance training & cardio the Jungle Gym XT is a great way to enhance or add to a pre-existing workout. If you are just getting into fitness I would recommend purchasing resistance bands or dumbbells first as the skill level for the Jungle Gym XT is a little higher and the number of exercises that can be done with bands and dumbbells is a little more comprehensive.