Exercise Equipment to Give Your Whole Body a Workout
If you've ever visited an elite gym you've probably seen equipment that allows you to give your entire body an exercise. The equipment ranges from powerful professional equipment to small machines that can be used at home.
No matter what type of equipment you use, always "bake-in" progression and regression to aid your clients or students improve their fitness. Remember that even the most effective exercise equipment only produces results when used regularly.
All-in-One Exercise Systems
All-in-one exercise systems integrate the capabilities of several pieces of equipment into one unit. They usually include an squat rack and bench for strength training and an array of attachments that perform a range of exercises designed to target muscles in the arms, shoulders, back, abdomen and legs. They might also include a pulley and cable system that provides resistance to help you train weights. Some all-in-one exercise systems like the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym, feature a selectorized resistance system, which lets you change the amount of weight you're using by simply having to get up from your chair. Some of these equipments are easily foldable or stowable, which helps to reduce space.
Some all-in-one exercise systems use the power of a polymer rod, also known as Power Rods that generate tension to replace traditional iron weights. All-in-one systems such as the Total Gym and Bowflex systems utilize this kind of technology. These systems let you exercise your entire body without the use of weights. However, they require you to do some strength training exercises with your own body weight.
Other all-in one exercise systems come with the option of combining both weights and a pulley as well as a cable system, such as the BodyCraft X3 System. The machine comes with two 200-pound weight stacks that enables you to do many different strength-training exercises. It also has a wide range of attachments, including bars that are long and short with double and single D-handles, ankle straps, stirrup handles, rope handles and dual arm cuffs.
Other all-in-one fitness systems, like the Tonal and Tempo Studio, include technology that assists in ensuring that you are in good shape during your exercise routine. Both of them make use of 3D sensors to track the location of 25 joints and compare them with reference points, such as mirrors, to aid you in identifying the areas where your form is off. They then offer real-time feedback that helps guide you back to your proper posture. This feature can reduce your risk of injury and ensure that you are targeting the correct muscles in the most effective way. This is particularly crucial when training athletes for sports. For instance, if you're doing upper-body exercises that is related to running blocking, you must ensure that you're working on the muscles required by the sport.
Weights
Weight training improves bone strength, muscle mass and balance. It also helps burn calories. Athletes can train using free weights (dumbbells or barbells), machines that provide controlled movement patterns or cables with handles and bars for various pull exercises. Resistance bands can be used to help with exercises using body weight and can be a great option to incorporate them into workouts for children athletes or those who do not have access to weights.
When using weights, coaches must not place young athletes in low rep ranges, which could cause injuries and muscle soreness. Middle and high school athletes should generally use weights that they can lift at least six times per week with proper form.
Tubing or Resistance Bands
Tubing and resistance bands are a flexible option for weight training. Professional athletes from all sports utilize them to increase performance and increase strength and power, and build muscles without the need for weights that are heavy.
The practice of elastic resistance training has been practiced for almost 100 years. Athletes of all ages, fitness levels, and genders benefit from elastic resistance training to increase muscle strength, speed and agility. Tubes and resistance bands can be used to give you a an entire workout. They are lightweight and inexpensive.
Flat resistance bands are strips of latex, or stretchy fabrics. They are equipped with handles on both ends. When they are not in use 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 are hollow, cylindrical tubes coated with rubber or plastic. They are designed to be attached to a bar or door, pole or other stationary object. They are ideal for pulling and pushing exercises. They offer 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 and injury.
One of the major advantages of using elastic resistance training is that it permits you to change the emphasis put on specific muscles during an exercise by changing the direction of the pull. A study conducted at Brigham Young University, for instance, found that the tubing was redirected to the front of the leg during a step or squat exercise changed the focus of the hamstring and quad muscle groups.
Another benefit of tubing or resistance bands is that they can be an excellent option for those who prefer to work independently instead of working with a group or trainer. You can also take the tubing with you on trips, as they are small enough to fit into the bag of a backpack or suitcase.
Aerobic Machines
Cardio exercises boost endurance and strength in the cardiovascular system. They also burn calories and release feel-good chemicals called endorphins. The most well-known forms of cardiovascular exercise are walking, jogging, using an elliptical machine or a stationary bike and climbing on a stair climber. Equipment for indoor gyms is preferred over outdoor workouts for many reasons. The primary benefit of cardio equipment is that it provides an environment that is controlled and a programmable workout. A lot of machines have built-in monitors to track heart rate, time and distance for a more accurate workout experience.
leg exerciser are a low-impact cardiovascular exercise that can be used for walking, running or stair climbing. Users can also control their speed, incline and resistance level. These features make treadmills a great choice for those suffering from knee issues or who want to get in shape without putting too much pressure on their joints.
Stair climbers are popular pieces of cardio equipment because they work 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 build strength in the legs and core while targeting muscles in the arms, back and shoulders.
The Jacob's Ladder is a truly unique piece of fitness equipment, offering a demanding, total-body workout. This unique piece of equipment shaped as a ladder with separate rungs which serve as foot platforms. The rungs are attached to a chain that is constantly moving as the user climbs. The ladder moves at a rate determined by the climber's speed.
Stationary bikes and ellipticals can be another popular kind of cardio equipment due to their low-impact, full-body cardio workout. These machines allow users to alter their resistance to target specific muscles. For example certain ellipticals feature an "Rolling Hills" program which adjusts the machine's resistance to simulate biking or running up hills. Other ellipticals and stationary bikes have interval training programs that increase endurance.