When people first see the TRX system, they may initially be skeptical about its merits. It looks quite different from the machines one usually finds in gyms. A person could doubt whether it can actually provide a good workout given the lack of weight plates and other traditional loads. It doesn’t take long to convince them once they give it a try. They immediately realize the genius of using bodyweight as load. Whether beginner or advanced, people can find ways to adjust the resistance to their fitness level. Below are some strategies to increase the difficulty of TRX curls:
Perform the Reps at a Slower Pace
This works for dumbbells, barbells, and kettlebells as well. Simply perform the reps at a slower pace than you normally would. It may seem counterintuitive since doing anything faster tends to get the heart rate higher. The idea is that slower TRX curls will force your muscles to exercise a greater degree of control over the length of the movement. You will need to prolong the contraction of the biceps while also ensuring that you stabilize your core.
Walk Towards the Mount
Another way to make it more challenging is to increase the load on your biceps. Since the resistance comes from your bodyweight, you need to find ways to shift more of your weight to the straps. You can do this by walking towards the mount. You could even place your arms directly under it. This would require a ceiling mount since wall mounts and door mounts limit your positions.
Lengthen the Straps
You could make it even harder by lengthening the straps of the TRX system such that you are almost parallel to the ground. The smaller your angle, the higher the load on the straps. Make sure that you have a sturdy mount if you do this as you don’t want to fall on the ground in this position.
Use Only One Hand
Most TRX curls call for the use of two hands. This provides balance and stability for the users. However, it also divides the weight evenly between the two arms. If you feel that this is too easy, then try to do it with one arm only. See how many reps you can manage with this kind of approach.
Try Different Curls
Lastly, you can try different types of curls to challenge various parts of your biceps. For example, you could attempt TRX hammer curls, TRX preacher curls, and so on.