7 Most Powerful TRX Exercises For Your Upper Body

Coach Adam Fitness Freedom AthletesI hope you enjoy this post. If you want to transform your body using ‘Muscle-Centric Suspension Training,’ click here to start!

Author: Coach Adam | Founder of Fitness Freedom Athletes

The 7 Best TRX Exercises For Upper Body

The analogy ‘slow and steady wins the race’ is the best way to think of using a TRX. Suspension training gives you more bang for your buck because many stabilising muscles come into play when performing exercises.

Although you may be targeting your chest, with a TRX Chest Press. There are many secondary stabilising muscles incorporated to keep you in the press position. And allow you to perform the range of movement.

Your core, shoulder girdle, glutes and quads will all be engaged and under tension. More so than if you were lying on a bench with dumbbells…

A Better Physique

This is one of the reasons why I believe you can achieve a natural, athletic physique using a TRX. When used with the right ‘muscle-centric’ technique, you develop lean muscle and strength with improved movement patterns.

So here are the 7 best TRX exercises for upper body. And how to do them with effective technique for maximum lean muscle and body transformation results.

#1 Chest: TRX Chest Press

In this video, you’ll uncover the key TRX Chest Press technique to build a strong upper body and defined chest muscles. We’ll look at how to use a suspension trainer to isolate your chest muscles to enhance upper body strength.

Benefits of a TRX Chest Press

  • Improves Upper Body Strength: Effectively target and strengthen your chest muscles as the primary. And your shoulders, and triceps as the secondary.
  • Functional Training: Mimics real-life movements, improving overall functional fitness.
  • Improves Joint Health: Low-impact exercise that reduces strain on joints while providing effective resistance.
  • Enhances Flexibility: Encourages a full range of motion, improving flexibility and mobility.

Technique Points

  1. At the bottom, get your elbows back and stretch your chest muscles out.
  2. At the top, don’t bring your hands together. As your arms straighten out, focus on pushing your elbows together to initiate a powerful squeeze of the chest muscles.
  3. Keep your hands outside of shoulder width when pressing forward.

#2 Back: TRX Rows (Low & High)

In this video, we’ll look at how to do a TRX Row with two powerful exercise variations. Using ‘muscle-centric’ technique to maximise muscle and strength development for your back.

Benefits of these two TRX Row Exercises

  • Enhance back strength and muscle tone
  • Improve overall posture and stability
  • Stronger and more stable shoulder girdle
  • Develop width to your frame and that sought after V shape look

Technique Tips

  1. Perform a full range of motion. Take every single rep from a fully lengthened muscle position to a fully contracted position.
  2. Lead with your elbows. The hands are just hooks, pull with elbows DOWN and IN and UP and OUT.
  3. Be mindful. The biceps will be involved in both exercises. But your mindful focus should be on the lats and your upper back. Focus on squeezing those areas super hard.
  4. Pull your shoulder blades back first At the very bottom stretch with the shoulders forward (protracted) stretching the lats, be sure to then initiate the upward contraction by pulling the shoulder blades back first (retraction).⁣

#3 Arms: TRX Tricep Extension

In this video, we’ll look at two powerful exercise variations to master the TRX Tricep Extension to build strong and defined arms! You’ll learn how to do a TRX Tricep Extension with ‘Muscle-Centric technique’ and effective exercise form

Benefits of TRX Tricep Extensions

  • Targets the long head which gives your arm shape and definition
  • Improves mobility in your arms and your range of motion. Helps to reduce elbow pain by building strong muscles that support the joint.

Technique Points

  1. At the top, stretch your triceps right back behind your head. Really get that elbow right behind and lengthen the long head of the tricep as much as possible.
  2. Don’t pause at the top and don’t straighten your arms out. This takes the load/tension off the tricep.
  3. Focus on squeezing your triceps hard to press up.⁣⁣
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#4 Core: TRX Plank

In this video I’ll show you the ‘Muscle-Centric’ TRX technique for mastering the TRX Plank to boost your core strength. We’ll look at the essential steps of performing the plank with effective form.

The TRX plank is a highly effective exercise for enhancing your core strength, stability, and endurance. By using the TRX suspension trainer, you’ll add an extra layer of difficulty to a normal plank, ensuring your entire core area is fully engaged and challenged.

Benefits of a TRX Plank

  • Improved core stability
  • Enhanced ab muscle definition
  • Increased overall strength and balance

Technique Points

  1. The main focus is to squeeze your ab muscles the entire time.
  2. Keep your bum slightly elevated to help with this.
  3. Then it’s just a matter of increasing the length of time workout to workout.

#5 & 6 Shoulders: TRX Shoulder Ys and Facepulls

I’ve found most people tend to have well-developed front shoulders from various pressing exercises. It’s the middle and rear shoulder muscles which are left underdeveloped. ⁣

Targeting these strengthens your shoulder girdle strength and creates a 4D aesthetic look⁣.

In this video, I’ll guide you through 2 TRX Row exercises that have transformed my shoulders and posture. We’ll be using muscle-centric technique to help you build strength and shape in your shoulders.

Benefits TRX Shoulder Ys and Facepulls

  • Isolate the middle and rear shoulder.
  • Strengthening your rear shoulder muscle help fix rounded shoulders.
  • Building middle shoulder muscles give your upper body more width to create a V-shape composition.

Technique Points

  1. Keep the range of motion short, this ensures a constant tension
  2. Don’t relax at any point, keep your entire arm contracted throughout⁣⁣
  3. Slight bend in the elbow⁣⁣
  4. Contract shoulder blades back throughout

#7 Arms: TRX Bicep Curls

In this video, I’ll break down the suspension trainer bicep curl technique to maximise your bicep gains. With proper form to target all 3 strength ranges of your biceps. Along with your bicep peak, that sexy bathroom mirror pose.

Benefits of a TRX Bicep Curl

  • Reduced strain on the elbow joint
  • Ability to take bicep through a greater range of motion because the straps work with your biomechanics and movement ability.

Technique Points

  1. Contract the tricep at the bottom to stretch the bicep. Opposing muscle, when one contracts the other must lengthen. A bigger range of motion, more muscle incorporated and broken down, and better gains.
  2. Rotate the wrist at the top so the pinky goes up and the thumb goes down. This will greatly help with the top contraction squeeze. It will also target the bicep peak, for that popping bicep flex pose.
  3. Squeeeeeze face 😉 Mindful muscle-centric technique always.

Your TRX Upper Body Building Coach,
Adam
Body Transformation Coach

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About The Author

About The Author

Coach Adam, Body Transformation Coach

Founder of Fitness Freedom Athletes

Hello, my friend… It’s my mission to help you build lean muscle and transform your body using just a suspension trainer and simple nutrition optimisation…

I call it Fitness Freedom!

I spent 8+ years as a personal trainer hating the ego-driven gym culture. Every day I saw clients like you struggle to make sessions, feel intimidated by the environment, and regard the gym as a chore NOT enjoyment. Because of this, their results were limited. But they believed there was no other way.

So in 2016, I setup Fitness Freedom Athletes. To date, Fitness Freedom Athletes has helped over 8000+ transform their bodies (and lives!).

Start here to transform yours too!

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Coach Adam aka TRX Traveller with fitness freedom athletes

About Coach Adam

Hello, my friend... It's my mission to help you build lean muscle and transform your body from home-with a suspension trainer, resistance band, and simple nutrition optimisation...

I call it Fitness Freedom!

I spent 8+ years as a personal trainer hating the ego-driven gym culture. Every day I saw clients like you struggle to make sessions, feel intimidated by the environment, and regard the gym as a chore NOT enjoyment. Because of this, their results were limited. But they believed there was no other way.

So in 2016, I setup Fitness Freedom Athletes. To date, Fitness Freedom Athletes have helped over 8000+ transform their bodies (and lives!).

Start here to transform yours too!

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I'm new to Suspension Training, where shall I start?

First up, welcome! Out of all the millions of websites out there thank you for visiting this one. Secondly, your interest and motivation will change your life. It did for me and thousands of fitness freedom athletes in our community of all ages. If you have a suspension trainer (like a TRX)...

The best place to start would be with the Beginner Suspension Trainer Total Body Transformation Program. It’s the most popular Program and will teach you the effective muscle-centric technique to transform your body and begin your life-changing journey.

If you’re seeking a resistance band Program, get stuck into the Band Muscle Pump Program which is for beginners/intermediates to learn the band muscle-centric technique and transform their body with just one resistance band.

What makes this different from other suspension training Programs?

Maybe you’ve tried suspension training before and it didn’t work, so you wonder how is this different?

Here’s the truth: You didn’t fail. The technique failed you.

Richard is 50 years old. He’d tried everything for his knee mobility problems. When he started my program, he told me: “I was skeptical because I’d tried suspension trainers before with no results.”

But here’s what changed everything… Richard learned Muscle-Centric Technique instead of the mindless “movement-centric” stuff he’d been doing from YouTube videos.

The difference – Instead of multiple muscles sharing the load (which creates zero growth stimulus), he learned to isolate individual muscles.

The result? In his own words: “I have dropped 12 lbs and gained 90% of my mobility back. The strength I have gained has helped significantly.”

Yes, you may have tried suspension training before. But you’ve never tried my suspension training technique. The one that actually builds lean muscle and transforms bodies.

  • What you tried before: Movement-centric technique (multiple muscles sharing load)
  •  What these Programs teach: Muscle-centric technique (isolated muscle overload)
  • Why it matters: Only isolated muscles get the stimulus needed for real growth

The reframe: Your previous “failure” actually proves you need the RIGHT technique, not the RIGHT equipment.

Do you have any training courses or Workout Programs?

Yes absolutely, I have The Fitness Freedom Suspension Trainer & Resistance Band Programs for all levels and fitness goals. They will teach you the effective 'Muscle-Centric Technique' that will transform your body! And cover everything from nutrition to mindset and performance execution.

PLUS, once you become a Fitness Freedom Athlete, you'll get access to a tun of member only resources and bonuses within the Fitness Freedom Athletes platform.

I got you covered for every challenge and every goal.

What if I'm too out of shape?

Plot twist: Being out of shape is your biggest advantage.

Joe said it perfectly: “Outstanding program. It is perfectly paced for true beginners who are looking for a way to start getting fit with a program that pushes you, but doesn’t ask too much too soon.”

The Programs have two phases specifically designed for this:

Phase 1 (4 weeks): Technique mastery and building your foundation Phase 2 (4 weeks): Transformation and strength building

Matt started overweight and out of shape. Result? “Lost 40+Lbs, getting lean, and showing great definition!”

Ben, another beginner, said: “I’ve been delighted with the Program…. thoughtful and well-rounded!”

  • Beginner advantage #1: No bad habits to unlearn
  • Beginner advantage #2: Fastest initial gains
  • Beginner advantage #3: Most dramatic visible changes

The reframe: Starting “out of shape” means you’ll see the most dramatic transformation.

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I guess at first, you shouldn’t. Trust is built and earned over time. Check out my reviews and success stories so you can get a better understanding of what I am about and who I help.

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I am mainly based in London, UK. But I love travelling, specifically backpacking our beautiful world and experiencing other cultures... So most likely I may be based on the side of a mountain or little beach hut. Perhaps I’ll even meet you in person at some point… That would be just awesome!

Adam Atkinson TRX Traveller Fitness Freedom AthletesAdam Atkinson TRX Traveller Fitness Freedom Athletes

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