Exercise Equipment to Give Your Whole Body a Workout
If you've visited a gym with a professional, you've seen equipment that lets you 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 type of equipment you are using, be sure to "bake-in" progression and regression to help your students or clients improve their fitness. Be aware that even the most powerful equipment will only produce results if it is used regularly.
All-in-One Exercise Systems
All-in-one exercise systems combine the functions of multiple pieces of equipment into one unit. They typically include an squat rack, a bench and attachments for a variety of exercises that target muscles in the arms, the back, shoulders, and legs. Some might have an electric pulley and cable system to offer resistance to help with weight training. Some all-in one exercise systems, such as the Life Fitness G7 home gym, have a selectorized system of resistance, which enables users to alter the weight they are using by simply pulling a pin. Some of these machines can fold up or put away to save space.
Certain all-in-one exercise 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 systems that make use of this technology. These systems let you train your entire body without the use of weights. However, they still require you to do some exercise routines for strength using your own body weight.
Other all-in-one fitness systems include weights as well as a cable and pulley system such as the BodyCraft X3 System. It comes with a dual weight stack of 200 pounds that allow users to do a variety of exercises for strengthening. It also has a wide selection of attachments, such as short and long bars, single and double D-handles, ankle straps, stirrup handles, a rope handle and two arm cuffs.
Other all-in-one exercise systems, like the Tonal and Tempo Studios, incorporate technology to ensure proper posture while working out. Both products utilize 3D sensor technology to monitor 25 joints, compare them with mirrors, for example, as a reference point and determine any changes in your posture. They then offer real-time feedback to help you get back to your proper form. This feature can help reduce your risk of injury and ensure that you are working the right muscles in the most effective way. This is especially crucial when training athletes for sports. If you're doing an upper body workout that corresponds with run blocking, for example, you should make sure you're targeting the muscles required by the sport.
Weights
Training with weights builds muscles, strengthens bones and improves balance, and burning calories. Athletes may train with free weights (dumbbells or barbells) or machines that provide controlled movements, or cables and bars for a variety of pull exercises. Resistance bands can be used to help with bodyweight exercises and can be a great option to incorporate them into training for younger athletes or those without access to weights.
Coaches should not place young athletes in low rep ranges when they are using weights. This could lead to injury and pain in the muscles. Athletes in middle and high school should be using weights that they can lift more than six times with proper form.
Tubing and Bands of Resistance
Tubing and resistance bands are a flexible option for weight training. Professional athletes from all sports utilize them to improve performance and increase strength and power and build muscles without the need for weights that are heavy.
Since the beginning of time elastic resistance training has been utilized. It's now utilized by athletes of all fitness levels and ages to improve and train the strength, speed, and agility. Tubes and bands for resistance are affordable and portable and can be used in conjunction with simple home exercises for a complete fitness routine.
Flat resistance bands consist of strips of latex or stretchy fabrics. They have handles at both ends. They can be folded up and put in a backpack or suitcase when not being used. They are lighter than tubes resistance band and can be used for longer exercises.
Tube resistance bands consist of hollow cylindrical tubes that are coated with plastic or rubber. They are typically designed to be attached to a bar, door, pole, or other stationary object. These bands are great for pushing and pulling exercises. They offer different levels of resistance based upon their thickness and tension. They are also more durable than the standard flat resistance band, and many of them have a built-in snap-guard which prevents overstretching.
The primary benefit of using elastic resistance is the ability to change the direction of the pull in an exercise. For instance, a research performed at Brigham Young University showed that altering the direction of force during an exercise like a squat or step by directing the tubing band towards the front of your leg changed the focus of quad and hamstring muscles.
A resistance band or tubing can be an ideal option for those who prefer to work on their own rather than with a trainer or a group. You can also bring them with you when traveling, as they are small enough to fit into luggage or backpacks.
Aerobic Machines
Cardio exercises improve endurance and cardiovascular strength burn calories and trigger the release of the feel-good chemicals referred to as endorphins. Walking, jogging and using an elliptical machine are some of the most well-known cardiovascular exercises. Although these workouts are able to be done outdoors but indoor gym equipment is usually used for a variety reasons. Cardio equipment has the main benefit of offering the control of an environment that allows for a custom-designed exercise. Many machines come with built-in monitors to track heart rate, time and distance for a more accurate workout experience.
Treadmills are an exercise that is low-impact and can be used to simulate walking, running or stair climbing. They also let users manage their speed, incline and resistance level. These features make treadmills an excellent alternative for those who suffer from knee problems or wish to get in shape.
Stair climbers have become a popular cardio equipment as they exercise both upper and lower body at the same time, while burning lots of calories. Stair climbers are built to resemble an endless flight of stairs. They strengthen the legs, core, and arms while focusing on muscles in the back, shoulders, and shoulders.
The Jacob's Ladder is a more unique piece of fitness equipment that provides a demanding, total-body exercise. This unique piece of equipment is designed as a ladder, with rungs that serve as foot platforms. The rungs are linked to a chain that continues to move as the user climbs. The ladder moves at a rate determined by the user's climbing speed.
workout cycle bike and ellipticals are another popular type of cardio machine since they offer a low-impact, full-body cardio workout. They allow users to alter the level of resistance to target specific muscles. For example, some ellipticals come with a "Rolling Hills" program which adjusts the machine's resistance to simulate running or biking up hills. Other ellipticals and stationary bikes have interval training programs that improve endurance.