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Love Your New Equipment? Drop A Review & Win a $100 Gift Voucher | You Will Be Contacted Via DM!
Date Posted:5 November 2021
Parallettes, also known as parallel bars, are used in gymnastics and other skills such as handstands. Gymnasts usually start learning the skill of performing a handstand on parallettes when they're around 10 years old and can progressively work their way up to more advanced skills like a back handspring.
People use parallettes to develop strength, flexibility, and core strengthening. If you're looking for the most efficient way to train on parallel bars, you have to train on both bars.
In this article, you will learn about the different methods of training on parallettes, how to achieve successful skills on parallettes, and what exercises are best for each skill.
Parallettes are actually two parallel bars (also called p-bars). They can be made of wood, steel, plastic or other materials. Parallettes should be set up so that they are parallel to each other. The feet of the parallettes should also touch the ground, enabling the gymnasts to do exercises that require them to balance.
The parallette is quite small and is an essential piece of equipment for doing gymnastics and callisthenics exercises. They can be used to improve skills in multiple skills such as handstands, pushups, dips, muscle-ups and many more. They are also effective tools for floor exercises.
Parallettes serve multiple purposes. The advantages of parallettes include fitness/conditioning, skill development and effective core workout. They are a piece of equipment that can be used to improve your overall balance, strength and coordination.
Many fitness experts will tell you that parallettes are an inexpensive way to achieve fitness goals. They are also great for developing explosive power in the arms, shoulders, back and chest.
Parallettes are also effective in speeding up your gains when it comes to upper body strength. Working with parallettes is easy and the possibilities are endless, which means you can try many different exercises.
The parallettes are a good way to build balance in the upper body. More specifically, they improve your posture, balance and overall coordination. Since the parallettes are a static movement, you will develop balance, improve your symmetry, and higher fitness level.
Parallettes are also great for improving the aerobic capacity in the arms, shoulders, back and chest. You can benefit from working out your muscles that involve moderate oxygen consumption.
Parallettes and the skills that go along with them will greatly improve shoulder stability and strength. This makes perfect sense because all of the muscles involved in moving the bars are also involved in other exercises such as push-ups, dips and pull-ups.
Some experts consider parallettes a great strength-training tool. They help you build shoulders, upper back, chest, arms and core strength using a lighter load. The movements performed with parallettes will enhance the power and muscle stamina in the upper body.
Parallettes are also great for building explosive power. The muscles will work together when performing movements like the clean and jerk, which will build the strength of your chest, arms and shoulders.
Your upper body can benefit greatly from plyometric training. One of the best ways to do that, other than plyometric boxes, is by using parallettes. You can use them to develop your upper body power and agility skills.
The movements performed with the parallettes are also used for bodyweight training. The weight of the parallettes is minimal, so it will be easier for you to build muscle mass without having to use much weight.
Parallettes are also great when it comes to first time users. This is because they are easy to use, portable and versatile. They are also effective in improving the body's ability for dynamic movement.
If you have been interested in free weight training but were a little intimidated, parallettes may be a great place to start. The more you use them, the better you will get at performing exercises with them.
If you plan to buy a parallettes set, you had better do it with the best. There are many different variants of the parallettes, especially in heights. You can choose between low, medium and high parallettes. Each of these variants has advantages that you need to weigh to decide which one you should choose.
Low parallettes (also called short or mini parallettes) are generally more challenging. Since it is only 10cm to 12cm above the ground, low parallettes gives a little less leeway for various exercises with progressions.
However, the shorter parallettes are more portable, handy and easier to take along anywhere and place in position. This version is suitable for exercises such as push-ups, planche leans, handstands, frog stands, and planche leans.
The most common types are the medium parallettes, also called standard, small or classic parallettes. It is approximately 30cm above the ground and makes more space for other floor exercises. Medium-high parallettes are great for bench dips, push-ups, L-sit, elbow lever, and handstands.
You should opt for the medium heights to have your body positioned at level with the parallel bars. This way, you will have more flexibility in your arm movements.
High parallettes or dip bars tend to be much taller at 70cm to 100cm. This allows the body to have more space for other floor exercises and is great for beginners. Because you are not too close to the ground you do L-sits, dips, pull-ups, deep handstands, crossovers, and planche training.
Here are some parallettes exercises suitable for beginners in gymnastics training or other skills training:
1. Parallettes push-ups: this exercise hardly differs from the regular push-ups other than doing it using parallel bars.
2. Static knee raises: with this exercise you hold yourself up in a seated position, draw your knees toward your chest and then bring your legs back down to the starting position. Complete 5 to 10 static knee raises to feel your abdominal muscles burn.
3. Planche lean: this is a callisthenics exercise that improves shoulder strength. It prepares the athlete for the planche and other exercises such as handstands.
4. Dips: this is best performed in shorter parallette bars that are close to the ground. Begin with your hands on the bars, elbows locked out and feet on the ground. Lower your hips toward the floor and then back up to the starting position.
5. L-sits: this exercise is more suitable with taller parallel bars. Simply hold yourself up in a position that resembles sitting, hold this position for a few seconds and then repeat. With shorter parallettes, you can do the V-sits lifting your legs up on the level of your sternum.
6. Handstands: unless you've already mastered your balance and can do a handstand without support, you'll want to execute these handstands with your feet against a wall. Later you can progress to handstand push-ups.
Parallettes are super effective fitness equipment for powerful bodyweight strength. However, beginners often have trouble deciding the type of parallettes they should buy. Let us go over the key characteristics you should consider before choosing which parallettes to purchase:
The greatest advantage of parallettes is that they are portable. It is therefore important that you buy parallettes that are easy to transport and store. Size can also be a significant factor for those looking to maximize their workout.
You should purchase parallettes made out of high-quality materials since they could potentially support your body weight. It should provide the wrist with a neutral grip, which will help with your training. The grip should also be comfortable, especially during the warm-up.
A cheap parallettes will not last for a very long time. Moreover, if you do buy cheap parallettes, it is more likely that your fitness routine will suffer. Therefore, always opt for the more expensive but better quality parallettes.
A very crucial factor to consider when buying parallel bars is height. It is important that you find out the best height for you before purchasing your parallettes. Refer above for different versions of parallettes based on height.
If you are looking for an expansive range of fitness equipment, look no further than Morgan Parallette (Equalizer) Bars. You can use it for push ups, dips, L-sits, bench dips and more to stay in shape and target the muscles that need constant strengthening.
It has a dimension of 73cm x 60cm x 39cm that offers the flexibility you need for different types of exercises. Made of premium materials, it is highly durable with a stable grip so you can train safely and perform at your full capacity.
Morgan Sports is a highly rated supplier of commercial sports equipment in Australia. As an industry leader, we only sell high-grade fitness equipment for gyms and sports organizations that want to add a whole new dimension of training equipment for their athletes and members.
You may have found that you are highly motivated to continue your fitness training with the parallette bars. To maximize your ability to train with them, it is important that you understand each of the exercises that are possible with parallettes before purchasing them.
Consider your level of fitness and then choose an appropriate version of parallettes based on your needs.
We hope you have found this article to be both entertaining and educational. We wish you all the best with your fitness training.
Contact Morgan Sports for all your commercial fitness equipment needs.