Exercise Equipment to Give Your Whole Body a Workout
If you've ever visited an elite gym, you've likely seen exercise equipment that enables you to give your whole body an exercise. It is available in a variety of expensive professional, heavy-duty systems to more compact, do-it-all machines that you can use 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. 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 usually include a bench and squat rack to help with strength training, as well as a variety of attachments to perform a variety of exercises to target muscles in the shoulders, arms, back, abdomen and legs. Some may have an electric pulley and cable system to provide resistance to help with weight training. Certain all-in-one fitness systems, such as the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym come with a selectorized resistance system, that allows you to alter the amount of weight you are using by simply getting up from your seat. Some of these equipments are easily foldable or stowable, which helps to reduce space.
Certain all-in-one exercise systems employ a polymer-based rod called Power Rods, which create 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 allow you to train your entire body without using weights. However, they still require you to perform exercise routines for strength using your bodyweight.
Other all-in one exercise systems combine both weights and a pulley and cable system like the BodyCraft X3 System. It has a dual weight stack of 200 pounds that allows you to perform a variety of exercises for strengthening. It has a variety of attachments, including shorter and longer bars as well as dual and single D-handles and stirrup handles.
Other all-in-one exercise systems, such the Tonal and Tempo Studio, feature technology that assists in ensuring proper form during your workouts. Both systems utilize 3D sensors to monitor the position of 25 joints and compare them with other reference points, such as mirrors, which assist you in determining when your posture is off. They provide real-time feedback that helps guide you back into good posture. This feature can reduce your risk of injury, and ensure that you are targeting the correct muscles in the best method possible. This is especially important when you train athletes for sports. For instance, if doing upper-body exercises that is similar to running blocking, you should be sure you are working on the muscles required by the sport.
Weights
Weight training increases the strength of bones, muscle mass, and balance. It also helps to burn calories. Athletes can train with weights that are free (dumbbells and barbells) and machines that offer guided 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 are a great way to incorporate them into workouts for younger athletes or those without access to weights.
Coaches should be cautious about putting young athletes in low rep ranges when using weights. This could lead to injury and pain in the muscles. Athletes in middle and high school should use weights that they can lift six times or more with proper technique.
Tubing or Resistance Bands
Tubing and resistance bands offer a versatile alternative to training with weights. They are used by professional athletes across all sports - footballers, UFC fighters, bodybuilders and more - to enhance performance and strength, and build muscle size without the need for large free weights.
Since almost a hundred years elastic resistance training has been practiced for a long time. Athletes of all ages, fitness levels, and genders utilize elastic resistance training to build the strength, speed, and agility. Resistance bands and tubes are inexpensive and portable and can be paired with simple home exercises to complete a 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 put in bags or backpacks. They're lighter than tube-style resistance bands and can be used for a greater range of exercises.
Tube resistance bands consist of hollow, cylindrical tubes coated with plastic or rubber. They're usually designed to be attached to a bar, door or pole, or some other stationary object. They can be used for pulling or pushing exercises, and they provide varying levels of resistance depending on their thickness and tension. They are also more durable than the standard flat resistance band and many come with a snap-guard inbuilt which prevents overstretching.
The primary benefit of elastic resistance training is the ability to alter the direction of pull during an exercise. For instance, a research conducted at Brigham Young University showed that altering the direction of force in the squat exercise or step by directing the tubing band towards the front of your leg changed the focus on quad and hamstring muscles.
Tubing or a resistance band can also be an excellent option for athletes who prefer to work on their own instead of working with a trainer or a group. You can also take the tubing with you on trips as they are compact enough to fit in a backpack or suitcase.
home exercise equipment best boost cardiovascular strength and endurance burn calories and trigger the release of feel-good chemicals known as endorphins. Walking, jogging and using an elliptical are some of the most well-known cardiovascular exercises. While these exercises are able to be done outdoors, indoor gym equipment is usually used for a variety reasons. The major benefit of cardio equipment is that it creates the security of a controlled environment, and allows for a customizable workout. Many machines have built-in monitors to track heart rate time, distance and distance for an enhanced experience.
Treadmills are a low-impact cardiovascular workout and can be used to simulate walking, running or stair climbing. Users can also control their speed, incline and resistance level. These features make treadmills a great option for those with knee issues or want to get in shape.
Stair climbers have become popular fitness equipment because they work both upper and lower bodies at the same time and burn a lot of calories. Stair climbers are designed to mimic an endless flight of stairs. They are great for strengthening the legs and core, as well as the arms while targeting the muscles in the back, shoulders and shoulders.
The Jacob's Ladder is a truly unique piece of fitness equipment, offering an intense, full-body workout. This rare equipment is shaped like a ladder and features separate rungs that function as foot platforms. The rungs of this unique equipment are linked to a continuous chain that moves when the user climbs. The ladder moves at a rate determined by the user’s climbing speed.
Stationary bikes and ellipticals can be another popular type of cardio machine since they offer a low-impact, full-body cardiovascular exercise. They allow users to alter the level of resistance to target specific muscle groups. Certain ellipticals come with the "Rolling Hills" program that alters the resistance of the machine to simulate running or biking up hills. Other stationary bikes and ellipticals come with interval training programs to improve endurance.