LB Suspend: a workout like no other - KUAM.com-KUAM News: On Air. Online. On Demand.

by Krystal Paco

Guam - According to Luis Blanco, owner of the Pound Academy in Hagatna, LB Suspend works the core, raises endurance, builds and tones muscle, and increases flexibility.

He explained, "You're suspended from the ground supported by a band, which is called the suspension trainer made by TRX 727." Blanco says anyone can go to the gym and lift heavy weights, but the secret to a LB Suspend program is the pushing and pulling of your own body weight.

"It's everything its more so strength and conditioning as well at the same time, although it does involve a lot of core-based movements, because in the exercises you have to keep your lower extremities and upper extremities equally proportion, supported by your core. So a lot of it is definitely you can design the program to be cardio, you can design to the program to be strengthening, but it is a lot of strengthening because you're pulling and pushing your own body weight," he explained.

Blanco has been a fan of the TRX Suspend workout for years, but only recently has attained enough equipment to provide the class to his members. "As far as I know, I'm the only actual TRX-certified trainer instructor. There are some that do the workouts but not ones that teach the whole full blown class designed by TRX," he said.

If you try the workout and get hooked, Blanco sells the TRX Suspension Band at his gym. Blanco says the band is a worthwhile investment because it can be used anywhere, making it ideal for traveling, saying, "If you want to see what it's all about come in and try it; at least you've tried it and you know what to expect."

Blanco guarantees he'll get you sweating, not only with LB Suspend, but with any of the fitness classes he offers. "There's nothing watered-down about what I do," he promises.  "It's a challenge and I'm not going to beat around the bush and say it's easy. It's taken me some time to get to where I'm at with it. I love a challenging workout and that's definitely what I provide for my members. With suspension training it is a challenge I would never say it's easy. I think people know that none of my workouts are easy."

LB Suspend classes are offered Mondays at noon and Wednesdays at 5:45pm at the Pound Academy in Hagatna. If you can't commit to a gym membership, pay as you go. For more information, call Blanco at 687-4229.