Exercise Equipment to Give Your Whole Body a Workout
If you've been to a gym that is professional, you've seen equipment that lets you work out your entire body. The equipment ranges from powerful professional systems to compact machines that can be employed at home.
Whatever equipment you use, always "bake-in" progression and regression to aid your clients or students improve their fitness. And remember that even the best exercise equipment will only yield results if utilized regularly.
All-in-One Exercise Systems
All-in-one systems incorporate several pieces of equipment into one unit. They typically have the squat rack and bench for strength training and various attachments to perform a range of exercises that target muscles in the shoulders, arms, back, abdomen and legs. They could also have a pulley and cable system that provide resistance to help you train weights. Certain all-in-one fitness systems like the Life Fitness G7 Home Gym have an adjustable resistance system which lets you change the amount of weight you're using by simply getting up from your seat. Some of these equipments are easily foldable or stowable, which helps to save space.
Some all-in one exercise systems use the power of a polymer rod known as Power Rods to create tension instead of traditional iron weights. All-in-one models like the Total Gym and Bowflex systems utilize this kind of technology. These systems allow you to exercise your entire body without using weights. However, they still require you to perform exercises for strength using your bodyweight.
Other all-in-one fitness systems include weights as well as an incline pulley system and cable like the BodyCraft X3 System. This machine comes with a dual weight stack of 200 pounds, which allows you to perform dozens different exercises for strengthening. It also comes with a broad range of attachments, including bars of both length and short length, single and double D-handles, ankle straps, stirrup handles, rope handles and two arm cuffs.
Other all-in one exercise systems, such as the Tonal and Tempo Studios, use technology that helps you maintain proper posture while working out. Both systems make use of 3D sensor technology to track 25 joints, compare them to reference points such as mirrors and determine the moment when your posture has changed. They also provide real-time feedback to guide you back to your proper form. This feature can help reduce the chance of injury and ensure that you are focusing on the correct muscles in the best method possible. This is especially crucial when you train athletes to participate in sports. For example, if you're doing an upper-body workout that is related to running blocking, you want to ensure that you're training the muscles needed by the sport.
Weights
Weight training increases bone strength, muscle mass and balance. It also helps burn calories. Athletes can train using weights that are free (dumbbells and barbells), machines that provide guided movement patterns or cables with handles and bars for a variety of pull exercises. Resistance bands can be used to add resistance to bodyweight exercises and are great for incorporating into the workouts of young athletes or those who don't have access to weights.
When using weights, coaches should avoid putting young athletes in low rep ranges which can cause muscle soreness and injuries. Athletes in middle and high school should use weights they can lift at least six times in proper form.
Tubing or Resistance Bands
Resistance bands and tubing are a flexible option for weight training. Professional athletes across all sports utilize them to improve performance as well as 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 practiced for a long time. It is now utilized by athletes of all levels of fitness and age to build and strengthen the strength, speed, and agility. Tubes and resistance bands are affordable and portable, and they can be combined with easy home exercises for a complete fitness routine.
Flat resistance bands are usually made of strips of stretchy or latex fabric and have handles attached to both ends. They can be rolled up and placed in a suitcase or backpack when not in use. They're lighter than tube-style 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're usually designed to be attached to a door, bar, pole, or other stationary object. They are ideal for pulling and pushing exercises. They provide different levels of resistance based on their thickness and tension. They're also more durable than regular resistance bands and typically come with a snap guard to protect against over-stretching, which could cause injury.
The main benefit of using elastic resistance is the ability to change the direction of the pull during an exercise. For instance, a research performed at Brigham Young University showed that changing the line of force in an exercise like a squat or step by redirecting the tubing or band towards the front of your leg altered the focus of the muscles of the quad and hamstring.
A resistance band or tubing is also a great option for athletes who prefer working on their own rather than with a trainer or group. They're also great for travel because you can put them into a suitcase or backpack and have access to your favorite workout routines.
Aerobic Machines
Cardio exercises increase endurance and cardiovascular strength, burn calories and stimulate the release of feel-good chemicals known as endorphins. The most popular types of cardiovascular exercise include walking, jogging, using an elliptical machine or a stationary bike and climbing on a stair-climber. Although these workouts can be performed outdoors, indoor gym equipment is typically preferred for a variety of reasons. The primary benefit of cardio equipment is that it offers a controlled environment and allows for a customizable workout. A lot of machines have built-in monitors to monitor heart rate as well as time and distance to provide more precise workouts.
Treadmills are an exercise that is low-impact 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 problems or want to improve their fitness.
Stair climbers are now a popular cardio equipment as they work both upper and lower body at the same time and burn a lot of calories. They are designed to mimic a continuous staircase, stair climbers work the core and legs while targeting muscles in the back, arms and shoulders.
The Jacob's Ladder is a challenging total-body exercise. The unique piece of equipment is designed as a ladder, and comes with separate rungs which function as foot platforms. The rungs of this unique equipment are linked to a chain that moves when the user climbs. The ladder moves at a speed determined by the user's climbing speed.
Stationary bikes and ellipticals are another popular kind of cardio equipment due to their low-impact, full-body cardiovascular workout. They allow users to alter the level of resistance in order to focus on specific muscle groups. For instance, some ellipticals come with the "Rolling Hills" program which adjusts the machine's resistance to simulate biking or running up hills. Other stationary bikes and ellipticals have interval training programs that increase endurance.