Exercise Equipment to Give Your Whole Body a Workout
If you have ever been to a professional gym you've probably seen equipment that allows you to work out your entire body. It can range from expensive professional equipment, heavy-duty, and powerful to smaller, do-it all equipment that you can use at home.
No matter what kind of equipment, you must "bake in" progression and regression so your clients or students can improve their fitness. Remember that even the best exercise equipment only produces results when utilized regularly.
All-in-One Exercise Systems
All-in-one systems incorporate multiple pieces of equipment in one unit. They usually include a bench and squat rack to help with strength training, as well as a variety of attachments to perform a variety of exercises designed to target muscles in the shoulders, arms, back, abdomen and legs. They might also include a pulley and cable system that provide resistance for weight training. Some all-in-one exercise equipment such as the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym come with an adjustable resistance system which lets you change the amount of weight you're using by simply getting up from your seat. Some of these machines are portable or stowable to help reduce space.
Some all-in one exercise systems employ a polymer rod called Power Rods to create tension instead of traditional iron weights. The Bowflex and Total Gym systems are examples of all-in-one fitness systems which make use of this technology. These systems let you train your whole body without using weights. However, they require you to perform strength training exercises with your bodyweight.
Other all-in-one exercise systems have the option of combining both weights and a pulley and cable system, like the BodyCraft X3 System. This machine has two 200-pound weight stacks that lets you perform dozens of different strength-training exercises. It also has a wide selection of attachments, such as bars of both length and short length as well as double and single D-handles, ankle straps, stirrup handles, rope handles and two arm cuffs.
Other all-in one exercise equipment, like the Tonal and Tempo Studio, incorporate technology that aids in ensuring proper form during your exercise routine. Both systems make use of 3D sensors to monitor the position of 25 joints and compare them to reference points, such as a mirror, to aid you in identifying when your form is off. The devices then give real-time feedback that can aid you in getting back into proper form. This feature can help reduce your risk of injury, and ensure that you are focusing on the correct muscles in the best way possible. This is particularly crucial when training athletes for sports. If you're performing an upper-body exercise that is correlated with running blocking, for instance you must ensure that you're targeting muscles required by the sport.
Weights
Weight training can increase muscle mass, bone strength, 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 to perform a variety of pull exercises. Resistance bands provide resistance to exercises using body weight, and are ideal for incorporating into the workouts of young athletes or those who do not have access to weights.
Coaches should avoid placing young athletes into low rep ranges while using weights. This could lead to injury and pain in the muscles. Middle and high school age athletes should generally utilize weights that they can lift six or more times, with proper form.
Tubing and Resistance Bands
Tubing and resistance bands provide an alternative to training with weights. They are used by professional athletes across all sports - footballers, UFC fighters, bodybuilders and many more - to boost performance and strength, and build muscle size without the need for heavy free weights.
Elastic resistance training has been in use for almost a century. Athletes of all ages, fitness levels, and genders use elastic resistance training to increase muscle strength, speed and agility. Resistance bands and tubes are inexpensive and portable, and they can be combined with easy home exercises for a complete fitness routine.
Flat resistance bands are generally composed of strips of latex or stretchy fabric. They are adorned with handles that are that are attached to both ends. They can be folded up and placed in a backpack or suitcase when not being used. They are lighter than tubes resistance bands and can be used for longer exercises.
Tube resistance bands consist of hollow, cylindrical tubes coated with plastic or rubber. They are designed to be affixed to a bar or door, pole or other stationary object. They can be utilized for pulling or pushing exercises, and offer varying levels of resistance depending on their thickness and tension. They're also more durable than flat resistance bands and usually come with a built-in snap guard that safeguards against over-stretching, which could cause injury.
The primary advantage of training with elastic resistance is the ability to change the direction of the pull during an exercise. A study at Brigham Young University, for example, showed that redirecting the tubing to the front leg of the leg during a squat or step exercise changed the focus of the quad and hamstring muscles.
Another benefit of using resistance bands or tubing is that they are a good option for athletes who prefer to work on their own instead of working with a trainer or a group. You can also take them along when you travel as they are compact enough to fit in a backpack or suitcase.
bicycle for workout boost endurance and strength in the cardiovascular system. They also help in burning calories and release feel-good chemicals known as endorphins. Jogging, walking and using an elliptical machine are some of the most popular cardiovascular exercises. Equipment for indoor gyms is preferred over outdoor workouts for many reasons. Cardio equipment has the main advantage of providing the control of an environment that allows for a custom-designed exercise. A lot of machines have built-in monitors to monitor heart rate as well as time and distance to provide an improved workout experience.
Treadmills offer a low-impact cardiovascular workout and can be used to simulate walking, running or stair climbing. Users can also adjust their speed, incline, and resistance level. These features make treadmills an excellent option for people with knee problems or looking to get in shape without putting too much pressure on their joints.
Stair climbers have become a popular fitness equipment because they work both upper and lower bodies simultaneously, while burning lots of calories. Designed to mimic a never-ending flight of stairs, stair climbers work the legs and core while targeting muscles in the arms, back and shoulders.
The Jacob's Ladder is a challenging total-body exercise. This unique piece of equipment designed to look like a ladder with rungs that serve as foot platforms. The rungs are connected to a chain that continues to move as the user climbs. The ladder moves at a pace determined by the user's speed of climbing and allows them to select their own level of 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 to target specific muscle groups. For example certain ellipticals feature a "Rolling Hills" program that adjusts the resistance of the machine to simulate biking or running up hills. Other stationary bikes and ellipticals come with interval training programs to increase endurance.