Exercise Equipment to Give Your Whole Body a Workout
If you have ever been to a gym that is professional, you've seen equipment that lets you work out your entire body. It ranges from expensive professional, heavy-duty 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 systems incorporate several pieces of equipment into one unit. They typically have an squat rack and bench to help with strength training, as well as various attachments to perform a variety of exercises that target muscles in the arms, shoulders abdominal, back, and legs. They may also have an electric pulley and cable system that provide resistance to help you train weights. Some all-in-one exercise equipment such as the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym come with a selectorized resistance system, which lets you change the amount of weight you are using with a pin without having to get up from your chair. Some of these equipments are portable or stowable to help save space.
Certain all-in-one exercise equipment systems use the power of a polymer rod known as Power Rods to create tension instead of traditional iron weights. The Bowflex and Total Gym systems are examples of all-in-one exercise equipment that make use of this technology. These systems offer a way to work out your entire body without the requirement for weights, but they require you to complete some strength-training exercises with your own body weight.
Other all-in-one fitness systems include the option of combining both weights, a pulley and cable system, such as the BodyCraft X3 System. It comes with a dual weight stack of 200 pounds, which allows you to perform a variety of strength-training workouts. It also has a wide range of attachments, including short and long bars, single and double D-handles, ankle straps, stirrup handles, a rope handle and dual arm cuffs.
Other all-in-one fitness systems, such as the Tonal and Tempo Studios, incorporate technology to ensure proper form while working out. Both of them utilize 3D sensors to monitor 25 joints, compare them with reference points such as mirrors and determine when your form has changed. The products provide real-time feedback that will help you get back into proper form. This feature will reduce the risk of injury and ensure that you are working the correct muscles in the best possible way. This is particularly important when training athletes to compete in sports. For instance, if working on an upper-body exercise that is similar to running blocking, you want to make sure that you're working on the muscles required by the sport.
Weights
Weight training increases muscle mass, bone strength, and balance. It also helps to burn calories. Athletes can train using free weights (dumbbells or barbells) or machines that offer guided movement patterns or cables with handles and bars to perform different pull exercises. Resistance bands can be used to help with exercises using body weight and are a great way to incorporate them into workouts for younger athletes or those without access to weights.
When using weights, coaches must avoid putting young athletes in low rep ranges which can cause muscle soreness and injuries. High and middle school should use weights they can lift at least six times in proper technique.
Resistance Bands and Tubing
Tubing and resistance bands are a great alternative to weight training. They're used by professional athletes across all sports - footballers, UFC fighters, bodybuilders and more - to improve performance and strength, and build muscle size without the need for bulky free weights.
The practice of elastic resistance training has been around for over a century. It's now used by athletes of all fitness levels and ages to improve and train muscle strength, speed, and agility. Tubes and bands for resistance are inexpensive and portable and can be paired with simple home exercises to create a complete fitness routine.
Flat resistance bands are generally composed of strips of latex or stretchy fabric. They have handles that are attached to both ends. When not in use they can be rolled and stored in 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 made of the use of plastic or rubber compounds. They are designed to be affixed to a bar or door, pole or other stationary object. These bands can be used for pulling or pushing exercises, and they provide varying levels of resistance depending 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.
The primary benefit of elastic resistance training is the ability to alter the direction of the pull during an exercise. A study conducted by Brigham Young University, for example, showed that the tubing was redirected to the front part of the leg during a step or squat exercise changed the focus of the quad and hamstring muscles.
Tubing or a band of resistance is also an ideal option for those who prefer to work on their own rather than working with a coach or a group. They're also great for traveling since you can fit them into a suitcase, or backpack and be able to access your favorite exercises.
Aerobic Machines
Cardio exercises increase cardiovascular strength and endurance. They also help in burning calories and release feel-good chemicals called endorphins. The most popular types of cardiovascular exercise include walking and jogging on an elliptical machine as well as riding a stationary bicycle and climbing on a stair climber. While these exercises can be done outdoors but indoor gym equipment is often preferred due to a variety of reasons. The primary benefit of cardio equipment is that it offers the security of a controlled environment, and allows for a custom workout. Many machines come with built-in monitors that track heart rate as well as time and distance to provide an improved workout experience.
Treadmills are a low-impact cardiovascular exercise that can be used for walking, running, or stair climbing. stationary cycle for exercise can also control their speed, incline, and resistance level. These features make treadmills an excellent alternative for those who suffer from knee issues or want to get fit.
Stair climbers are popular pieces of equipment for cardio as they exercise the upper and lower body at the same time while burning lots of calories. They are designed to mimic a continuous flight of stairs, stair climbers work the legs and core while focusing on muscles in the back, arms and shoulders.
The Jacob's Ladder is a truly unique piece of fitness equipment, offering an intense, total-body exercise. This unique piece of equipment designed as a ladder, with separate rungs that serve as foot platforms. The rungs on this rare equipment are linked to a chain that moves when the user climbs. This makes the ladder move at a speed determined by the user's climbing speed, allowing them to choose their own intensity.
Stationary treadmills and stationary bikes are also popular cardio machines. They offer a full body, low-impact cardiovascular workout. They allow users to adjust the resistance level in order to target specific muscle groups. For instance certain ellipticals feature an "Rolling Hills" program that adjusts the machine's resistance to simulate biking or running up hills. Other stationary bikes and ellipticals come with interval training programs to increase endurance.