Episode 17: Pros & Cons of Using Resistance Bands

Movement Logic: Strong Opinions, Loosely Held

Modern postural yoga utilizes bodyweight as a form of resistance, but within the context of modern postural yoga, is bodyweight sufficient load for building strength? If not, does adding resistance bands to the practice mean we can build strength? Welcome to Episode 17 of the Movement Logic podcast! In this episode, Laurel discusses the best kept yoga prop secret—resistance bands and unpacks what she sees are both the pros and the cons of using resistance bands, both for strength training as well as for practicing yoga.

Here’s what this episode covers:

• How resistance bands lower the barrier for entry for someone to start adding external load to their movement practice.
• What research has to say about bands effectiveness for building strength and muscle mass, as well as some caveats to consider.
• What are some of the main limitations resistance bands present when looking to build strength?
• Why do some people use free weights and bands together in the same exercise? What’s the point of that?
• What constitutes a heavy weight versus a moderate weight versus a light weight and where do resistance bands and bodyweight tend to fall on this spectrum?
• The difference between resistance training and strength training and how the goals of both can be very different.
• How strength endurance and strength are different variables we can train, and why both are important.
• Why physical therapists might use resistance bands when rehabbing their patients.
• How resistance bands are like other yoga props, as well as their unique advantage.
• How resistance bands can help hypermobile yoga practitioners, people in pain, or people who are just bored with their practice and looking to change things up.
• Why resistance bands might not be necessary and why people might not like adding them to their yoga practice.

Reference links:

Chris Beardsley’s article What do you think you are doing by adding bands or chains?

Laurel’s Yoga with Resistance Bands Teacher Training

Laurel’s Virtual Studio

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