Exercise device and method of exercising

Abstract

An exercise device includes a belt configured to be secured around the waist, hips or torso of a person, or to a fixed object adjacent a person. The belt has a front portion configured to be disposed at the front of the person and a back portion configured to be disposed at the back of a person. A pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords are mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt and a grip mounted to a distal end of the elastomeric cord. A method of using the device and exercises that can be used therewith are also disclosed.

1 . An exercise device, comprising:
 a belt configured to be secured around the waist, hips or torso of a person, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at the front of the person and a back portion configured to be disposed at the back of a person;   a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt; and   a grip mounted to a distal end of the elastomeric cord, wherein the belt is formed from two pieces wherein ends of a back belt piece are configured to be releasably mounted to the ends of a front belt piece.   
   
   
       2 . An exercise device, comprising:
 a belt configured to be secured around the waist, hips or torso of a person, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at the front of the person and a back portion configured to be disposed at the back of a person;   a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt; and   a grip mounted to a distal end of the elastomeric cord, wherein the elastomeric cords are movable a predetermined distance along the length of the belt and fixable therealong.   
   
   
       3 . A method of exercising using the device according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 fastening the belt around the hips, waist or torso of a person or behind the heel of a person or under the feet of a person, or a fixed object adjacent a person;   connecting the handle of each elastomeric cord to an arm or a leg; and   extending the elastomeric cords; or   including the steps of:   placing the belt on a floor with the front portion of the belt facing upward;   connecting the handle to each arm; and   extending the elastomeric cords in a pre-determined manner and at a pre-determined rate.   
   
   
       4 . A method of exercising using the device according to  claim 2 , the method comprising:
 fastening the belt around the hips, waist or torso of a person or behind the heel of a person or under the feet of a person, or a fixed object adjacent a person;   connecting the handle of each elastomeric cord to an arm or a leg; and   extending the elastomeric cords; or   including the steps of:   placing the belt on a floor with the front portion of the belt facing upward;   connecting the handle to each arm; and   extending the elastomeric cords in a pre-determined manner and at a pre-determined rate.   
   
   
       5 . An exercise device, comprising:
 a belt configured to be secured around a waist, hips or torso of a person, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at a front of the person and a back portion configured to be disposed at a back of a person;   a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt; and   a grip mounted to it distal end of each of the spaced apart elastomeric cords, wherein the elastomeric cords are each looped at one end thereof and configured to allow an associated length to be adjusted.   
   
   
       6 . An exercise device according to  claim 5 , wherein the belt extends between a pair of ends and includes a fastener disposed at each end such that, when secured around the person, a belt length can be selectively adjusted. 
   
   
       7 . An exercise device according to  claim 5 , wherein the belt comprises two pieces, wherein ends of a back belt piece are configured to be releasably mounted to corresponding ends of a front belt piece. 
   
   
       8 . An exercise device according to  claim 5 , wherein the elastomeric cords are mounted to a left-hand side and a right hand side of the front portion of the belt, respectively. 
   
   
       9 . An exercise device according to  claim 5 , wherein the cords are moveable a predetermined distance along a length of the belt and fixable therealong. 
   
   
       10 . An exercise device according to  claim 5 , wherein the elastomeric cords are detachably mounted to the belt. 
   
   
       11 . An exercise device according to  claim 5 , wherein the grip at the end of each elastomeric cord comprises a stirrup. 
   
   
       12 . An exercise device according to  claim 5 , wherein the grip at the end of each elastomeric cord comprises a glove. 
   
   
       13 . A method of exercising using the device according to  claim 5 , the method comprising:
 fastening the belt to a fixed object adjacent the person;   connecting the grip of each elastomeric cord to an arm or a leg; and   extending the elastomeric cords.   
   
   
       14 . A method of exercising using an exercise device comprising a belt configured to be secured around a waist, hips, arms, feet, or torso of a user, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at a front of the user and a back portion configured to be disposed at a back of a user, and a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt, and a grip mounted to a distal end of each elastomeric cord, the method comprising:
 placing the belt on a floor with the front portion of the belt facing upward;   connecting at least one of the grips to an arm of the user; and   extending at least one elastomeric cord in a predetermined manner and at a predetermined rate.   
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said placing the belt on a floor comprises placing the belt under one or more of the feet of the user or under an adjacent object. 
   
   
       16 . A method of exercising using an exercise device comprising a belt configured to be secured around a waist, hips, arms, feet, or torso of a user, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at a front of the user and a back portion configured to be disposed at a back of the user, a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt, and a grip mounted to a distal end of each elastomeric cord, the method comprising:
 placing at least a portion of the belt behind the user's upper spine with the front portion of the belt facing the user's spine and connecting the grip to each arm; and   extending the elastomeric cords in a predetermined manner and at a predetermined rate.   
   
   
       17 . A method of exercising using an exercise device comprising a belt configured to be secured around a waist, hips, feet, arm, or torso of a user, the belt having a front portion configured to be disposed at a front of the user and a back portion configured to be disposed at a back of the user, a pair of spaced apart elastomeric cords mounted from a proximal cord end to the front portion of the belt, and a grip mounted to a distal end of each elastomeric cord, the method comprising:
 placing the belt over soles of the feet with the front portion of the belt facing toward the user upward;   connecting the grip to each arm; and   extending the elastomeric cords in a predetermined manner and at a predetermined rate.