What is Redcord, and why is it Pilates' best friend?

If Pilates activates the stabilising muscles, then Redcord switches on entire muscular chains.

Redcord is a Norwegian treatment system involving suspension from up to all four limbs, with an axis that allows you to move up and down in unrestricted movements. The overall aim? To restore functional and pain-free movement patterns. It works on the basis of neuromuscular stimulation and focuses on muscle interaction and the cause of the problems, not just the symptoms. Hoorah!

Redcord’s multiple points produce ideal gravity and more flexibility of position. This helps you to exercise in your most natural position, which limits the pain and targets the correct muscles.

Exercises can provide fast results for anyone who wants to perform better, prevent or overcome injury, eliminate pain or just stay active whilst having fun (there are some amazing relaxation exercises, to boot!). Utilising your own body weight as resistance, there are hundreds, and counting, of suspension exercises. Variety is definitely the name of the game with Red Cord. Oh, and shaking muscles.

“Errrr, TRX did that years ago,” I hear you say. Well no.

True that both TRX and Redcord are suspension training that, by definition, use your body’s weight as resistance to help build core strength, stability and control. However, the way they go about this is not the same.

Unlike the TRX system, the Redcord sling system can help no matter what your age or muscle strength. Redcord uses bungee cords to assist with each movement, providing a targeted workout without painful interference. Redcord also uses multiple points of suspension set 60cm apart. These multiple points produce ideal gravity and more flexibility of position. This helps you to exercise in your most natural position, which limits the pain and targets the correct muscles. This also gives you the ability to adjust intensity, preventing injury and getting the most out of your workout.

In the TRX system you can only work at a set angle, which limits your mobility and exercise positions. The Y shape keeps your body consistently at an angle, so parallel positions are more difficult. The Redcord system also helps therapists and trainers by allowing them to add additional support and to reduce the weight put on the muscle to prevent further injury and to decipher which muscles in the body are “the weakest link”.

Redcord has developed its own training program for Pilates instructors. Redcord Mini is a portable Red Cord which can be hung up anywhere you have a bar of reasonable height and strength. Trips to the beachfront and parks with this tool are fun and productive!

There are myriad ways of moving using Redcord Mini and I just so happen to have one. So let me help you hang from a tree or an iron bar and make lasting changes to your muscular chains.

There’s a load more information here. You can also follow Redcord Ibérica on Instagram.