• Gymnastic rings allow you to use your entire body for resistance training.rings image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  Gymnastic rings are suspended from the ceiling and used in a variety of different exercises. Gymnastic ring exercises can improve balance, strength and endurance. You do not have to be a professional gymnast to participate in ring exercises, using body weight as a challenging form of resistance training.
  
  

Support Technique

• This is a basic skill for exercising on gymnastic rings. Push down with your hands while grasping the rings, raising your body up. Pull elbows in against your sides, turning the rings out as you push yourself up. Push yourself up as high as possible so that your arms are completely outstretched. Sustain this position for as long as you can, maintaining your hold on the rings.
  
  

Ring Row

• The body row or ring row is a beginner exercise that prepares the arms for full pull-ups without using all of your body weight. The body row is similar to an upside-down pushup, where you hold the rings and lean back so that your body is straight from head to toe. Extend the arms fully, then pull the chest up toward the rings, holding the body up with arms bent before lowering the body. Alter the height of the rings to affect the difficulty of the move.
  
  

Ring Pushup

• This maneuver is similar to a standard pushup, but you conduct it on rings to add variety. Alter the height of the gymnast rings to change the difficulty of the exercise. Grip the rings and extend the legs fully behind you. Straighten arms, then lower your body by bending your arms as far as you can go. Widen the distance between the rings to add difficulty to this exercise.
  
  

Ring Pull-up

• This is another staple gymnast ring exercise. Lock the hands in place to limit shoulder mobility, then bend the arms at the elbows, lifting the body. Maintain stability in the rings as you lift your body, supporting your body weight with arms and hands. End in chin-up position before lowering yourself to the ground again. Alter the width between the rings or the height of the rings to add difficulty to this exercise.