Exercise Equipment to Give Your Whole Body a Workout
If you've ever been to an establishment that is a professional, you've likely seen exercise equipment that enables you to give your entire body a workout. The equipment ranges from heavy-duty professional equipment to smaller equipment that can be utilized at home.
No matter what type of equipment you are using, be sure to "bake-in" progression and regression to aid your clients or students improve their fitness. Keep in mind that even the finest equipment can only yield results if it is utilized regularly.
All-in-One Exercise Systems
All-in-one systems combine several pieces of equipment into one unit. They typically have a bench and squat rack for strength training and various attachments to perform a range of exercises designed to target muscles in the arms, shoulders, back, abdomen and legs. Some may include a cable and pulley system to offer resistance to help with weight training. Certain all-in-one fitness equipment, such as the Life Fitness G7 home gym include a selectorized system of resistance that allows users to alter the weight they're using by simply pulling a pin. Some of these machines are also easily foldable or stowable, which helps to make space.
Certain 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 exercise equipment which make use of this technology. These systems allow you to strengthen your entire body without the requirement for weights, but they do require you to complete some strength-training exercises with your own bodyweight.
Other all-in-one fitness systems combine both weights and an incline pulley system and cable such as the BodyCraft X3 System. The machine comes with two 200-pound weight stacks that allows you to perform dozens of different strength-training exercises. It comes with a variety attachments, including shorter and longer bars as well as dual and single D-handles and stirrup handles.
Other all-in-one exercise equipment, such as the Tonal and Tempo Studios, use technology to help ensure proper form while working out. Both systems use 3D sensors to monitor the position of 25 joints, and compare them to reference points, such as a mirror, to help you identify the areas where your form is off. They provide real-time feedback that helps guide you back into good posture. This feature can help reduce your risk of injury, and ensure that you are targeting the correct muscles in the most effective method possible. This is especially crucial when training athletes for sports. If you're doing an upper-body exercise that is correlated with running blocking, for instance it is important to ensure you're targeting the muscles required by the sport.
Weights
Training with weights builds muscle, strengthens bones and improves balance, and burns calories. Athletes can train using free weights (dumbbells, barbells), machines that provide guided movement patterns or cables with handles and bars to perform different pull exercises. Resistance bands add resistance to exercises using body weight, and are great for incorporating into the training of younger athletes or those who don't have access to weights.
When using weights, coaches should not place young athletes in low rep ranges, which could lead to muscle soreness and injuries. Athletes in middle and high school should use weights they can lift more than six times with proper technique.
Resistance Bands and Tubing
Resistance bands and tubing are a flexible option for weight training. They're used by professional athletes from all sports - footballers, UFC fighters, bodybuilders, and more - to improve performance and strength, and build muscle size without the need for bulky free weights.
Since nearly a century, elastic resistance training has been practiced for a long time. Athletes of all ages, fitness levels, and genders benefit from elastic resistance training to increase the strength of their muscles, speed and agility. Resistance bands and tubes can be used to provide an entire workout. They are lightweight and affordable.
Flat resistance bands are usually composed of strips of latex or stretchy fabric. They have handles connected to both ends. When they're not being used they can be folded and put in luggage or a backpack. They're lighter than tube-style resistance bands and can be used for a wider range of exercises.
Tube resistance bands are hollow, cylindrical tubes coated with plastic or rubber. They are typically designed to be attached to a bar, door or pole, or some other stationary object. These bands can be utilized for pulling or pushing exercises, and they provide varying levels of resistance depending on their thickness and tension. They're also more durable than flat resistance bands and often feature a built-in snap guard that protects against over-stretching, which could cause injury.
One of the main benefits of using elastic resistance training is that it permits you to alter the focus on certain muscles during an exercise by changing the direction of the pull. A study at Brigham Young University, for example, showed that redirecting the tubing to the front part of the leg during a squat or step exercise altered the focus of the quad and hamstring muscles.
Tubing or a band of resistance can also be an ideal option for those that prefer to work alone rather than working with a coach or a group. You can also bring them with you when traveling, as they are small enough to fit into a backpack or suitcase.
Aerobic Machines
Cardio exercises boost endurance and strength in the cardiovascular system. exercise bikes help to burn calories and release a feeling-good chemical called endorphins. Walking, jogging and using exercise cycle bike are a few of the most popular cardiovascular exercises. Although these exercises are able to be done outdoors however, indoor gym equipment is typically preferred for a variety of reasons. The major benefit of cardio equipment is that it creates an environment that is controlled and a programmable workout. Many machines also offer built-in monitors to track heart rate, time and distance for a more accurate workout experience.
Treadmills offer a low-impact cardio workout and can be used to simulate running, walking or stair climbing. Users can also adjust their speed, incline, and resistance level. These features make treadmills an excellent choice for those suffering from knee problems or looking to get in shape without putting too much pressure on their joints.
Stair climbers are popular pieces of equipment for cardio because they exercise the lower and upper body at the same time while burning a lot of calories. Created to resemble a never-ending climb up a flight of stairs, stair climbers build strength in the legs and core while focusing on muscles in the arms, back and shoulders.
The Jacob's Ladder provides a challenging, total-body workout. The unique piece of equipment is designed like a ladder and has separate rungs which function as foot platforms. The rungs are connected 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 treadmills and stationary bikes are also popular cardio machines. They provide a full-body, low-impact cardiovascular exercise. These machines also allow users to adjust their resistance 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 ellipticals and stationary bikes have interval training programs that improve endurance.