Exercise Equipment to Give Your Whole Body a Workout
If you've ever been to a professional gym you will have seen exercise equipment that allows you to work out your entire body. It can range from expensive professional, heavy-duty systems to smaller, do-it-all machines that you can use at home.
Regardless of the type of equipment, always "bake in" progression and regression so your clients or students improve their fitness. Keep in mind that even the finest equipment will only produce results if it is utilized regularly.
All-in-One Exercise Systems
All-in-one systems combine multiple pieces of equipment in one unit. They typically include an squat rack and bench to help with strength training, as well as a variety of attachments to perform a range of exercises to target muscles in the arms, shoulders back, abdomen, and legs. Some might have an electric pulley and cable system to offer resistance to help with weight training. Some all-in-one exercise equipment such as the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym, feature an adjustable 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 make use of 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 let you exercise your entire body without the use of weights. However, they require you to perform exercises for strength using your own body weight.
Other all-in-one exercise systems have a combination of both weights and a pulley and cable system, like the BodyCraft X3 System. The machine includes a dual-weight stack of 200 pounds, which allows users to do a variety of exercises for strengthening. It also has a wide variety of attachments, including bars of both length and short length with double and single D-handles, ankle straps, stirrup handles, rope handles and dual arm cuffs.
Other all-in-one exercise equipment, like the Tonal and Tempo Studio, incorporate technology that aids in ensuring the correct posture during your exercises. Both of them use 3D sensors to track the position of 25 joints, and compare them to other reference points, such as mirrors, which assist you in determining when your form is off. The devices then give real-time feedback that can help you get back into the correct posture. This feature can reduce your risk of injury, and ensure that you are focusing on the correct muscles in the most effective method possible. This is particularly important when you train athletes for sports. If you're doing an upper-body workout that corresponds with run blocking, for example it is important to ensure you're targeting the muscles required by the sport.
Weights
Weight training improves the strength of bones, muscle mass and balance. It also helps to burn calories. Athletes can train using free weights (dumbbells or barbells) and machines that offer controlled movements, or cables and bars for a variety of pull exercises. Resistance bands add resistance to bodyweight exercises, and are a great way to incorporate into the training of younger athletes or those who don't have access to weights.
Coaches should not place young athletes in low rep ranges while using weights. This could lead to muscle pain and injury. Athletes in middle and high school should use weights they can lift more than six times with proper form.
Resistance Bands and Tubing
Resistance bands and tubing offer a versatile alternative to training with weights. Professional athletes in all sports utilize them to increase performance, increase power and strength, and build muscles without having to use weights that are heavy.
Since nearly a century, elastic resistance training has been utilized. All athletes of all ages, fitness levels, and genders utilize elastic resistance training to build the strength of their muscles, speed and agility. Tubes and resistance bands are inexpensive and portable and can be combined with easy home exercises to create a complete fitness routine.
Flat resistance bands are generally comprised of strips of stretchy or latex fabric and have handles attached to both ends. When they're not being used they can be folded and stored in a backpack or suitcase. They're lighter than tube resistance bands and can be used for a greater range of exercises.
Tube resistance bands consist of hollow cylindrical tubes that are coated with rubber or plastic. They're usually designed to be attached to a bar, door or pole, or any other stationary object. These bands can be utilized for pulling or pushing exercises, and provide various levels of resistance, based on their thickness and tension. They're also more resilient than regular resistance bands and often feature a built-in snap guard that protects against over-stretching, which could cause injury.
The primary benefit of using elastic resistance is the ability to change the direction of pull during an exercise. For instance, a research conducted at Brigham Young University showed that changing the line of force during an exercise like a squat or step by redirecting the tubing or band towards the front of your leg could alter the focus on muscles like the hamstring and quad.
Tubing or a resistance band can also be an excellent option for athletes that prefer to work alone instead of working with a trainer or group. They're also great for travel as you can pack them in a suitcase or backpack and have access to your favorite workout routines.
Aerobic Machines
Cardio exercises boost endurance and strength in the cardiovascular system. They also help in burning calories and release feel-good chemicals known as endorphins. Some of the most common forms of cardiovascular exercise are walking, jogging, using an elliptical machine, riding a stationary bike and climbing on a stair-climber. Although these workouts can be performed outdoors, indoor gym equipment is usually preferred for a variety of reasons. Cardio equipment has the main benefit of offering an environment that is controlled and allows for a customized exercise. Many machines come with built-in monitors to monitor heart rate time, distance and distance for a more accurate workout experience.
Treadmills are a low impact cardiovascular workout that can be used for walking, running or stair climbing. They also allow users to manage their speed, incline and resistance level. These features make treadmills an excellent alternative for those who suffer from knee problems or want to improve their fitness.
Stair climbers have become popular fitness equipment because they work both upper and lower bodies simultaneously while burning a lot of calories. They are designed to mimic a continuous climb up a flight of stairs, stair climbers strengthen the legs and core, while focusing on muscles in the arms, back and shoulders.
The Jacob's Ladder is a unique piece of fitness equipment that offers a demanding, total-body workout. This rare equipment is shaped like a ladder and has separate rungs which function as foot platforms. The rungs are linked to a chain that is constantly moving as the user climbs. The ladder moves at a speed determined by the user’s climbing speed.
Stationary bikes and ellipticals are also popular kind of cardio equipment since they offer a low-impact, full-body exercise. bikes exercise for sale allow users to alter the level of resistance in order to focus on specific muscle groups. For example certain ellipticals feature the "Rolling Hills" program which adjusts the machine's resistance to simulate running or biking up hills. Other ellipticals and stationary bikes come with interval training programs to increase endurance.