It is a new form of exercise, and it is finding favour in Bermuda with dedicated sportsmen and women and those who are simply looking for a way to stay in shape.

Those who have been using the workouts include, amongst others, nine-time May 24 Marathon Derby winner Kavin Smith, top swimmer Lisa Blackburn, sprinter Xavier James, and rugby player Derek Hurdle.

Office workers have also been using their lunch hour to workout in groups, often outdoors, and the new fitness system has even attracted the interest of dancers and dance instructors.

What is the new craze? It is TRX suspension training using a harness consisting of heavy duty nylon straps that capture and manipulate the user's own body weight in order to increase the effectiveness and range of an exercise.

Explaining the principles behind TRX, personal trainer Mark Raynor said: "It manipulates your body weight. Doing a normal sit-up for example is working in one dimension, you have the stability of the ground and friction which limits movement, but if you do crunchies in the harness you are working across three planes you can go up and forward and back.

"You can use a door, or a tree branch, a beam or put a metal hook on a wall to attach the strap."

He has been involved in a variety of sports and exercise regimes, starting off as a competitive swimmer then moving on to track and field athletics, martial arts and most recently a combination of cycling, swimming and the TRX exercise training.

He uses the system for an hour every other day, thereby allowing his body time to rest and recuperate between sessions. But even on days when he is meant to be resting, he might do a few exercises in the form of training demonstrations while working with clients.

He discovered TRX while in Boston a year ago.

"I saw a trainer using one of the straps with a client and went over and asked questions about it," he said. "I then contacted the company and got educated about it and how to use it."

To date he has arranged two full-on training camps alongside his own group training sessions and personal one-on-one sessions.

Being a highly mobile workout session has allowed groups to train during lunch hours at the Botanical Gardens and in Barr's Park, or relocating indoors if there is inclement weather. He has even trained a couple working out with the harness on a boat.

"We have athletes, corporate people and people who just want to get fit. There is camaraderie. Everyone is working hard and competing with each other and they keep coming back," said. Mr. Raynor.

"Bermudians are big into fitness. They want to look good and they also want to perform better. They are very much party people who splurge and then want to work it off."

Mr. Raynor used to suffer from sciatica pain in his back, but not any longer. He puts the relief down to a strengthening of his back and core muscles brought about by the minimal impact exercises achievable using the harness system.

"If I know that a person has something wrong (an injury) I can work around that. I've had people come along with slip discs and back injuries. My job as a trainer is to assess each client and keep them safe and modify exercises so they get some benefit."

At all times one part of the body acts as a contact to the ground, usually a hand or a foot. The exercises tend to be done for 30 to 60 seconds each, creating an interval training intensity to boost the benefit compared to a more relaxed, steady-state workout, according to Mr. Raynor.

The exercises can be tailored to a person's specific sport, so that the muscles most needed get the maximum workout. For instance, a golfer will go through the motions of hitting the ball and then the same range of motion will be replicated using the harness as a resistance tool.

But it is not just sport dancers and dancing instructors are getting in on the act too, recognising the benefits to be had from the new-style training.

"I'm trying to mix TRX with dance and do boot camps with music. When you put music to it, it attracts that sort of group. Dancers need a good core."

Mr. Raynor is working with some of the Island's dance schools to create dance-specific programmes, at the same time he is building a network of group workouts and offering his own one-on-one training if a client prefers.

He also sells the TRX harnesses so that people can do their own workouts at home, although he stresses it is best for anyone using the system to have at least a few supervised sessions to begin with.

Mr. Raynor says his business can go anywhere, as he is completely mobile and able to carry his equipment around on his motorbike. He also works with a mobile massage therapist, with clients benefiting from discounted pricing for treatments.

l Further details are available from Mr. Raynor on his website at www.markraynor.webs.com, or by calling 232-2080 or 737-2080.