Exercise Equipment to Give Your Whole Body a Workout
If you've ever been to a professional gym you've probably seen equipment that lets you give your entire body an exercise. It ranges from expensive professional equipment, heavy-duty, and powerful to smaller, do-it all machines that you can put to use at home.
No matter what type of equipment you choose to use, make sure you "bake-in" progression and regression to aid your clients or students improve their fitness. Remember that even the best fitness equipment will only yield results if utilized regularly.
All-in-One Exercise Systems
All-in-one fitness systems combine the functions of several pieces of equipment into one unit. They usually include the squat rack, bench and attachments for various exercises that target muscles in the arms and the back, shoulders, and legs. Some may include a cable and pulley system to offer resistance for weight training. Certain all-in-one fitness systems such as the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym, feature an adjustable resistance system that allows you to alter the amount of weight you are using by simply getting up from your seat. Some of these machines are also portable or stowable to help save space.
Some all-in one exercise systems utilize the power of a polymer rod, also known as Power Rods that create tension to replace traditional iron weights. All-in-one systems like the Total Gym and Bowflex systems utilize this kind of technology. These systems allow you to train your entire body without using weights. However, they still require that you perform some exercises for strength using your body weight.
Other all-in one exercise systems come with the option of combining both weights and a pulley and cable system, for instance the BodyCraft X3 System. The machine comes with a dual 200-pound weight stack that allows you to perform numerous different exercises for strengthening. It comes with a variety attachments like longer and shorter bars as well as dual and single D-handles and stirrup handles.
Other all-in-one exercise systems, like the Tonal and Tempo Studio, include technology that assists in ensuring the correct posture during your workouts. Both of them make use of 3D sensors to monitor the position of 25 joints, and compare them with references, like a mirror, to aid you in identifying the areas where your form is off. They provide real-time feedback to guide you to regain your form. This feature can help lower the risk of injury and ensure that you are targeting the correct muscles in the most effective way you can. This is particularly important when you train athletes for sports. For instance, if working on an upper-body exercise that is similar to running blocking, you must be sure you are working on the muscles required by the sport.
Weights
Weight training increases muscle mass, bone strength, and balance. It also helps burn calories. Athletes can train using free weights (dumbbells or barbells), machines that provide instructions for movement or cables with handles and bars to perform a variety of pull exercises. Resistance bands provide resistance to bodyweight exercises and are great for incorporating into the workouts of young athletes or those who don't have access to weights.
Coaches should be cautious about putting young athletes in low rep ranges while using weights. This could lead to injury and pain in the muscles. Athletes in middle and high school should use weights that can be lifted at least six times in proper technique.
Tubing and Resistance Bands
Tubing and resistance bands provide a versatile alternative to weight training. They are used by professional athletes in all sports - footballers, UFC fighters, bodybuilders, and more - to enhance performance and strength and increase muscle mass without the need for heavy free weights.
Elastic resistance training has been practiced for almost 100 years. It is now utilized by athletes of all fitness levels and ages to train and improve muscle strength, speed, and agility. Resistance bands and tubes are affordable and easy to carry, and they can be combined with easy home exercises to create a complete fitness routine.
Flat resistance bands are typically made of strips of latex or stretchy fabric. They have handles attached to both ends. They can be folded up and stored in a backpack or suitcase when not in use. They are lighter than tube resistance band and can be used for longer exercises.
Tube resistance bands are hollow cylindrical tubes made of an elastomer or plastic compound. They are designed to be attached to a door or bar or pole, or any other stationary object. These bands are great for pulling and pushing exercises. They provide different levels of resistance, based on their thickness and tension. They are also more durable than regular flat resistance bands, and many of them come with a snap-guard inbuilt that prevents overstretching.
The primary benefit of elastic resistance training is the ability to alter the direction of pull during an exercise. A study conducted at Brigham Young University, for example, showed that redirecting the tubing to the front leg of the leg during a step or squat exercise altered the focus of the quad and hamstring muscles.
Tubing or a band of resistance can be an ideal option for those that prefer to work alone instead of working with a trainer or a group. You can also bring them with you when traveling, as they are small enough to fit in the bag of a backpack or suitcase.
Aerobic Machines
Cardio exercises boost cardiovascular strength and endurance. They also help to burn calories and release a feeling-good chemical called endorphins. Walking, jogging and using an elliptical are a few of the most well-known cardiovascular exercises. The indoor gym equipment is favored over outdoor workouts due to a variety of reasons. Cardio equipment has the principal advantage of providing an environment that is controlled and allows for a customizable exercise. A lot of machines have built-in monitors that track heart rate time, distance and distance for an improved workout experience.
Treadmills provide a low-impact cardio workout and can be used to simulate walking, running or stair climbing. They also let users regulate their speed, incline and resistance level. These features make treadmills an ideal option for people with knee problems or looking to get in shape without putting too much pressure on their joints.
Stair climbers are a popular piece of equipment for cardio because they work the upper and lower body simultaneously while burning off 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 targeting muscles in the arms, back and shoulders.
best home exercise machine provides a challenging, total-body exercise. The unique piece of equipment is designed like a ladder and features separate rungs that serve as foot platforms. The rungs are linked to a chain, which continues to move as the user climbs. The ladder moves at a rate determined by the user's climbing speed.
Stationary bikes and ellipticals can be another popular kind of cardio equipment due to their low-impact, full-body cardiovascular workout. They allow users to adjust the resistance level to focus on specific muscles. Some ellipticals have the "Rolling Hills" program that alters the resistance of the machine to simulate riding or running up hills. Other ellipticals or stationary bikes come with interval training programs that improve endurance.