Get in the Swing With Parallettes

A perfect L-sit Photo: CrossFit Oakland

Think parallel bars are only for extra-lean Olympians and teeny-tiny gymnasts? Think again! Amping up your workout routine with exercises on "parallettes" -- miniature parallel bars that are light, portable and inexpensive -- can dramatically increase your strength and balance.

Some of your favorite old-school exercises, like push-ups and triceps dips, can be made more effective and more fun by moving them from the floor to parallettes.

"A push-up becomes an entirely new movement when your hand is positioned on top of the parallette," says Melissa Byers, owner and trainer at CrossFit 603. "The parallettes demand greater wrist and forearm strength and stability, and your potential range of motion is greatly increased."

A larger range of motion means a higher load on the muscles of your shoulders, back, arms and those hard-to-reach core muscles, and more load builds greater strength.

Isometric or "holding" exercises, like the L-sit shown in the photo, are an important part of parallette training. According to the CrossFit Journal, some studies have shown dramatic strength increases with nothing but isometric contraction exercises. Repeated holds as brief as 10 seconds can make you stronger and leaner.

"What's great about parallettes," says Byers, "is that they offer easy scaling options for more challenging exercises like L-sits." You can work your core strength and mid-line stability with a simple tuck hold -- hands placed on the parallettes with knees pulled into the chest -- while building up to the more advanced versions of the exercises.

Parallettes are available to buy, but it's easy, inexpensive and more fun to make them yourself with these simple instructions. Then rate yourself a 9.9 and award yourself a gold medal!

Looking for more ways to switch up a push-up? Refresh your form with this expert advice and challenging variations.