Owning a power tower opens up the opportunity to perform a world of exercises. However, it doesn’t end there because there are additions you can make to expand the range of moves you can incorporate into a workout.
Some of the best ways to adapt a power tower include adding resistance bands or gymnastic rings, but with TRX systems becoming increasingly popular, it makes sense to combine the two. But does TRX work well on a power tower, and is it safe once attached?
TRX suspension training systems can be used on a power tower, provided the tower is tall and sturdy enough to take the strain. Adding TRX to a power tower is a quick and easy way to do much more without the need for all kinds of equipment.
This article will take you through everything you need to know about using TRX on your power tower, from setting up to exercise ideas.
What is TRX?
TRX is the registered trademark of a business specializing in functional training equipment for the home and is best known for the TRX suspension training system.
A TRX suspension trainer is effectively a pair of straps with padded handles that can be suspended from a door or a high bar and allows the user to perform a series of movements that can take a standard workout to the next level.
These systems are sold online across the world, and there’s also a paid app subscription you can sign up for to get access to over 500 on-demand workouts.
Workouts vary depending on ability, preferred exercise style (yoga, HIIT, etc.), and the muscle groups you want to focus on.
Do You Need TRX on a Power Tower?
The use of TRX on a power tower is entirely optional, and deciding whether TRX could be good for you really depends on your workout goals and what other kinds of exercise or sports you perform on a regular basis.
The exercises on a power tower are generally based on body weight using the three main stations that most towers have built into their frames. These three stations include:
- A top bar for various kinds of pull-ups, chin-ups, muscle-ups, etc.
- Dip station that allows you to perform a range of dips, leg or knee raises.
- A base section which helps you do raised push-ups and similar floor work.
If you’re looking to expand your power tower routine, you may be limited to static movements that tend to focus more on upper body strength and less on the legs.
Using TRX is an excellent way to take the benefits you can get from a power tower even further by expanding the range of movements you can perform in a single workout.
As well as helping make a workout more intense, suspension training can also help make an exercise easier to perform by providing extra support when you need it. For example, using TRX in squats can help you squat further because you can use your arms to help you get back to a standing position.
The Benefits of Using TRX on a Power Tower
TRX, as a company, makes it clear that the main focus of using a suspension training system is to improve movement rather than focus on strength or weight loss.
While the system definitely does help improve a person’s range of movement, regular use incorporated with a power tower comes with several other benefits, which include:
- Improved Mobility. Adding TRX to a power tower can be particularly helpful for those who want to improve their range of movement. This, in turn, helps to expand the kinds of moves a person can comfortably perform. Many TRX users use it to help with yoga moves, which can be particularly useful for increasing mobility in calisthenics or other body weight-style workouts.
- Enhanced Performance. Using TRX regularly can help with performance in other sports, such as cycling, running, or bodybuilding.
- Full-Body Workout. The power tower helps increase strength using body weight as resistance. However, most of the moves performed on a power tower focus on the upper body, back, and core. Adding TRX helps maximize results by allowing the user to focus on a wider range of muscle groups, including the legs.
- Better Balance, Stability, and Coordination. Suspension training requires a degree of balance and the ability to sustain hold in various positions. This kind of exercise is a really good way to improve balance, stability, and coordination in everyday life.
- Improved Posture. Improving strength in the areas that matter (especially the back and shoulders) helps iron out bad posture, which over time, can help a person stand taller and straighter.
As well as the body benefits listed above, using TRX at home also has practical benefits. The main one is they don’t require additional space, and this one addition to your tower can double your exercise options.
Cost-wise, you can get a top-of-the-range TRX suspension training system for around $199 (at the time of writing), which is a pretty good deal when considering the expanded exercise potential.
Things to Consider Before You Attach TRX to a Power Tower
If you’re considering buying a TRX suspension system for your power tower, there are a few things that you need to consider to make sure your power tower will take the strain of the additional equipment.
Height
The first thing you need to consider is the height of your power tower. Although the suspension system can be easily adjusted to suit the type of exercise, TRX recommends that you attach the system at the height of around seven to nine feet.
They also state this is just a recommendation because the system is fully adjustable.
The TRX system is mainly designed to be used on a door frame, which, on average, are just under seven feet. In contrast, the average height of a power tower is around six to eight feet, depending on the model.
There are many budget power towers available, but as a general rule, better quality power towers tend to be taller. Some are also height adjustable, so they can accommodate a suspension trainer more efficiently than a six-foot tower.
This will all depend on your height too, because chances are, if you’re over six feet, you already have a tall tower to accommodate your height. Most moves performed on a suspension system are ground-based, with the straps coming outwards rather than downwards.
On the other hand, if your power tower is too tall, you can get a TRX extender (called the Xtender), which is compatible with the suspension trainer and increases the overall length of the system.
Sturdiness and Weight Bearing
The second and probably most important thing to consider before attaching a suspension system to a power tower is whether it’s sturdy enough to take the strain of a TRX workout without moving or, worse, being pulled over.
When you exercise with a suspension trainer, you will mainly pull the straps outwards using your full body weight, so it’s important to ensure the power tower is sturdy enough to take this strain.
Power towers will vary in the weight they can take, and the heavier the power tower, the less likely it is that it will move out of place when you’re training.
A sturdy base with an even weight distribution is also important. Some towers have all the weight on one side of the base, making them more likely to move or fall.
If you think your power tower isn’t sturdy or heavy enough to take a suspension trainer workout, you might need to consider fixing it to the ground or a wall.
How to Attach TRX to a Power Tower
If you’ve decided to combine your power tower with a TRX suspension system, here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Attach the Suspension Anchor
If you buy the TRX Pro System, it will come with all the fittings you need to install the trainer to either a door or a high bar.
The suspension anchor is the fitting you’ll need to attach the TRX suspension trainer to the top bar of a power tower.
To attach the suspension anchor to your power tower, follow the steps below:
- Hang the strap over the middle of the high bar.
- Wrap one end over the bar two or three times to make a secure attachment.
- Pull the end through both metal loops.
- The metal loops should be near the top of the bar beneath the wrapped part of the strap.
Step 2: Attach the Suspension Trainer
Attaching the trainer is simple. All you need to do once the anchor is in place is attach the suspension system to the loop at the end of the strap using the carabiner.
Ensure the trainer is fitted correctly by pulling down on the straps. Check the trainer is secure and tight around the top bar.
Step 3: Check the Height
Finally, you need to check the height of the suspension trainer to ensure it will be the right height for you when you perform various moves.
To do this, fully extend each strap using the adjustable rings. When the trainer is fully expended, it should ideally hang around three to six inches from the ground.
However, it’s not necessarily a problem if it’s slightly longer or shorter, provided it still works for you and your height.
If the trainer is too high for you (after the straps are adjusted), you might need to use the suspension extender to get the additional height you need.
If it’s too long after adjusting the straps, you can try looping the suspension anchor around the top bar a few more times to make it shorter.
Another option to increase or decrease height is if you have an adjustable power tower, you could try making the top bar higher or lower to accommodate the TRX.
Can You Permanently Attach TRX to a Power Tower?
The beauty of a TRX suspension trainer is that it’s light, quick, and easy to install, so you can easily move it or take it with you to another place.
If you’re looking for something a bit more permanent, you can definitely leave the trainer attached to the top bar of a power tower for use whenever you need it.
When you have days when you’re only using the power tower, you can tie up the straps to keep them out of the way, ensuring you can’t get caught up in them while you’re training.
TRX Exercises You Can Do on a Power Tower
There are all kinds of moves that you can perform using a TRX suspension trainer on a power tower, and the ones that you incorporate into your tower routine will depend on your goals and the muscle groups you want to focus on that day.
If you’re struggling to come up with a good routine, you can also sign up for the on-demand app to find workouts that fit your exercise style.
TRX recommends seven fundamental exercises as a starting point and something to build from and adapt. These include:
- The Standing Body Saw
- TRX Single-Arm Row
- TRX Chest Press
- TRX Single-Leg RDL
- TRX Squat
- The TRX-Assisted Lunge
- The TRX Power Pull
Performing these movements during a workout will help increase strength and mobility in muscle groups throughout the body.
Many power tower owners choose to attach a TRX system to add more leg exercises to their workouts, often lacking in a power tower routine, which is something you might want to consider if you’re just starting out with TRX.
Conclusion
Attaching a TRX suspension training system to a power tower is an excellent way to expand your exercise possibilities without equipment that takes up additional space in your home gym.
TRX is helpful for anyone looking to expand their range of movement, and it comes with plenty of added benefits, such as increasing strength and improving posture.
Provided you have a tall and sturdy power tower that won’t move when you push it using your full body weight, you will be fine to attach TRX to your high bar.