I shudder to think about the last time I did an at-home mat Pilates class without my trusted ankle weights. I didn’t experience the muscular burn I was craving. I felt like I could go on forever (and who has the time?). And while all movement counts for something, I didn’t feel like I got enough out of my session as I could have.
If you, too, don’t have a minute to waste and want the most out of your workouts, I implore you to consider ankle weights. In my personal training business, they’re my first line of defense when a client discusses hypertrophy (or muscular growth) goals in a gentle, low-impact setting.
What are ankle weights good for?
Ankle or wrist weights add a gentle burn to a range of low-impact lower body or upper body movements, no jumping required. Light weights like these (which stay up and are easy to fasten in a pinch in between sets) adequately load the muscle to failure — in other words, reaching the point where your muscles can no longer support the exercise — to help reach hypertrophy goals without compromising form. This helps minimize overcompensations associated with imbalances and injuries, making them ideal for aging populations, those newer to fitness or those looking to reintroduce gentle movement after some time away.