Exercise Equipment to Give Your Whole Body a Workout
If you've ever been to an establishment that is a professional you've probably seen equipment that lets you give your entire body an exercise. It is available in a variety of expensive, heavy-duty, professional systems to smaller, do-it all machines that you can put to use at home.
Whatever equipment you are using, be sure to "bake-in" progression and regression to help your students or clients improve their fitness. Remember that even the best exercise equipment only produces results when used regularly.
All-in-One Exercise Systems
All-in-one exercise systems integrate the functions of multiple pieces of equipment into a single unit. They usually include a bench, squat rack and other attachments for various exercises that target muscles in the arms, the back, shoulders and legs. They may also have an electric pulley and cable system that provide resistance for weight training. Some all-in-one exercise systems, such as the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym, feature an adjustable resistance system which lets you change the amount of weight you're using with a pin without having to get up from your chair. Some of these equipments are portable or stowable to help save space.
Some all-in-one exercise systems use an elastomer-based rod known as Power Rods that create tension to replace traditional iron weights. All-in-one models like the Total Gym and Bowflex systems use this type of technology. These systems let you train your whole body without using weights. However, they require you to perform exercise routines for strength using your body weight.
Other all-in-one fitness systems incorporate both weights and a cable and pulley system such as the BodyCraft X3 System. This machine includes a dual-weight stack of 200 pounds that allows users to do a variety of exercises for strengthening. It comes with a variety attachments including short and longer bars with dual D-handles, single and double and stirrup handles.
Other all-in-one fitness systems, like the Tonal and Tempo Studios, incorporate technology to ensure proper posture while working out. Both systems utilize 3D sensors to track the position of 25 joints, and compare them to other reference points, such as mirrors, which aid you in identifying when your posture is off. They also provide real-time feedback to help you get back to your proper form. This feature can help reduce the risk of injury, and ensure that you are focusing on the correct muscles in the best method possible. This is particularly crucial when training athletes for sports. For instance, if working on an upper-body exercise that corresponds to run blocking, you should ensure that you're targeting the muscle groups required by the sport.
Weights
Weight training can increase bone strength, muscle mass, and balance. It also helps burn calories. Athletes can train with weights that are free (dumbbells or barbells), machines that provide controlled movement patterns or cables with handles and bars for various pull exercises. Resistance bands offer resistance to exercises using body weight and can be a great option to incorporate them into training for younger athletes or those without access to weights.
When using weights, coaches must not place young athletes in low rep ranges that can lead to muscle soreness and injuries. Middle and high school age athletes should generally utilize weights that can be lifted at least six times per week with proper form.
Resistance Bands or Tubing
Tubing and resistance bands are a great alternative to weight training. Professional athletes across all sports utilize them to increase performance and increase strength and power and build muscles without having to use heavy weights.
Since the beginning of time elastic resistance training has been practiced for a long time. It's now utilized by athletes of all ages and fitness levels to train and improve the strength, speed, and agility. Tubes and resistance bands can be used to provide an entire workout. They are lightweight and affordable.
Flat resistance bands are made up of strips of latex, or stretchy fabrics. They have handles at both ends. When not in use they can be rolled and put into luggage or a backpack. They are lighter than a tube resistance band and can be used for longer exercises.
Tube resistance bands are hollow, cylindrical tubes with a rubber or plastic compound. They're typically designed to attach to a door, bar, pole, or other stationary object. These bands are great for pulling and pushing exercises. They offer various levels of resistance, based on their thickness and tension. They're also more durable than regular resistance bands and usually come with a built-in snap guard that safeguards against over-stretching and possible injury.
exercise bikes of using elastic resistance is the ability to change the direction of pull during an exercise. For instance, a research performed at Brigham Young University showed that changing the direction of force in an exercise like a squat or step by redirecting the tubing or band to the front of your leg changed the focus of muscles like the hamstring and quad.
Another advantage of tubing or resistance bands is that they can be a good option for athletes who prefer working independently instead of working with a group or trainer. They're also great for travel as you can pack them in a suitcase or backpack and still be able to access your favorite workout routines.
Aerobic Machines
Cardio exercises improve endurance and cardiovascular strength burn calories and trigger the release of the feel-good chemicals referred to as endorphins. Jogging, walking and using an elliptical machine are some of the most well-known cardiovascular exercises. Although these exercises can be performed outdoors however, indoor gym equipment is often preferred for a variety of reasons. Cardio equipment has the main advantage of providing the control of an environment that allows for a custom-designed exercise. Many machines have built-in monitors that can track heart rate time, distance and distance for a more accurate experience.
Treadmills provide a low-impact cardiovascular workout that can be used for walking, running or stair climbing. Users can also adjust their speed, incline and resistance level. These features make treadmills an excellent option for those with knee problems or wish to get fit.
Stair climbers are a popular piece of equipment for cardio as they work the lower and upper body at the same time while burning lots of calories. They are designed to mimic a continuous climb up a flight of stairs, stair climbers strengthen the legs and core, while targeting muscles in the back, arms and shoulders.
The Jacob's Ladder is a truly unique piece of fitness equipment, offering a demanding, total-body exercise. This unique piece of equipment is designed as a ladder, with rungs that serve as foot platforms. The rungs of this unique equipment are linked to a continuous chain that moves with the speed at which the user climbs. The ladder moves at a speed determined by the climber's speed.
exercise bikes and treadmills are also popular cardio machines. They provide a full-body, low-impact cardiovascular workout. These machines allow users to adjust the resistance level to focus on specific muscle groups. Certain ellipticals come with an "Rolling Hills" program that adjusts the resistance of the machine to simulate biking or running up hills. Other stationary bikes or ellipticals have interval training programs that improve endurance.