We first met Howard and Liz Halen of Genesis Performance at the LA Fit Expo. They were tucked in between supplement and clothing vendors and we ALMOST walked right past them. Fortunately, their foam roller caught our attention and then Howard asked if we wanted a demo. Why not? Foam rolling and stretching is a HUGE part of staying healthy so we thought we would give it a try.
What Howard explained to us is that in his career in the fitness industry, he found that many people don’t foam roll enough or when they do, they don’t maximize its effectiveness. Part of the struggle with foam rolling your back or hips is that when you lay down on a foam roller, you then end up tensing your head, neck and shoulders, decreasing the full-body muscle fascia release you are aiming for. Thus, the HNS System was born.
While doing a quick demo of this product at the Fit Expo was alluring, we knew we wanted to give it a thorough test run to see how it REALLY performs for an In Demand Woman. We were lucky enough to have that opportunity and we are pleased to bring you this product review!
When the HNS System arrived, it came unassembled in a large, but manageable box. Assembly of the HNS was relatively painless, even for someone who is not very handy! The package included simple-to-follow instructions, screws and the correct Allen Wrench to put the HNS together. There is also an instruction video on the website, but we didn’t need to use it for assembly.
To be clear, the HNS is a multi-functional tool, but its main intent is to be a support while foam rolling. When you purchase the HNS system, the foam roller is not included, but can be purchased separately either through Genesis Performance or any other vendor. It works with any foam roller, so the one we had works fine for us.
Our first test run on the HNS was doing simple movements for foam rolling the upper back, latissimus dorsi and glutes. On thick carpet, the wheels were a little sticky, but after a short amount of practice, it was easy to maneuver. On medium carpet it glides smoothly, and on smooth surfaces like hard-wood flooring, it can be a little harder to control but manageable. Another note about the materials is that the head rest is removable and washable.
We had the opportunity to do a one-on-one session with Howard for a full-demonstration. He showed us how to use the HNS to properly roll out hips, neck, upper back, lower back, latissimus dorsi and IT bands. We found the HNS to be fairly self-explanatory, but the picture guide showing the different movements and placement of your body was helpful. We found that with each new exercise, it was a little difficult at first to get into the proper position, but after a couple of minutes, the motion became simple to continue. Further, the device itself is fairly indestructible and adaptable so molding its use to each person’s specifications was easy to do.
One of the added benefits of the HNS is using it for core work. Similar to an ab roller or ab wheel, using the HNS on its free-spinning casters with your feet on the head rest, provides a killer core workout! You can also use the HNS for lower body work such as reverse or side lunges. By leveraging the wheels, your body has to work harder to control your movements, thus resulting in effective strength work. You could supplement the HNS with resistance bands, loops and even weighted plates to increase the work load. There appear to be many varied uses for this system.
At $79.99, the HNS is a great value for what you get. We feel confident recommending the HNS to add to your home workout collection. We want you to feel good in your body, and if using the HNS helps you do more self-care by way of foam rolling, this is an awesome tool!
Learn more about the HNS at https://genesisperformance.com/!
NOTE: this is a product review and not a sponsored article. If you would like to purchase an HNS from Genesis Performance you can use code “sassyhealthyfit” for 25% off. Sassy Healthy Fit does not receive any affiliate of other compensation from HNS if you use this code or not.
