8 Most Popular Home Fitness Equipment

Nowadays we are given a lot more options when it comes to
the fitness equipment that we use at home. In the past,
unless we had a lot of space and money, we might just have
been able to use a fitness video, basic exercise bike or a
rowing machine. Now, there is a world of choice when it
comes to choosing machines and equipment that can help us
get fit.

The kind of equipment that you choose to help you get fit at
home may involve one simple machine or a range of equipment.
What you choose here usually depends on what you want/need
to do to get fit, how much space you have at home to store
equipment and how much you can afford to spend on equipment
in the first place.

Some of the more popular choices here at the moment include:

1. Home gyms/Multigyms - this kind of fitness equipment
brings together a variety of exercise options and machines
into one useful fitness station. This kind of machine may
best suit people who spend a lot of time and effort on their
fitness levels and those who like to use cross training to
get the desired results.

2. Exercise bikes - an exercise bike is a stationary bike
that gives you all the advantages of cycling without the
need to go anywhere! A recent popular variation on this
theme is the spin bike.

3. Treadmills - treadmills are machines that have a
mechanized or manual belt operation. The belt moves as you
walk or run on it. Home options here include manual
treadmills where you make the belt move as you move and
mechanized treadmills where the belt runs automatically.

4. Rowing machines - a rowing machine is a piece of
equipment which allows you to simulate a rowing action. As a
sport rowing has a lot of general fitness and endurance
benefits and a rower is the preferred option of choice for
many home fitness users.

5. Cross trainers/Ellipticals - these machines give a good
all round workout. They work on the basis that your feet
push pedals and your arms push handles at the same time and
you use resistance forces to maintain/improve fitness.

6. Weights and benches - if you prefer weight training as
your fitness option of choice then weights and a bench may
be your best option. You can use free weights here or bar
weights depending on your preference, or both.

7. Steps - in recent years the step has become a popular
form of home exercise following on from its phenomenal
success in the gym. Here you use the step to maintain 'step'
exercises.

8. Small fitness equipment - many people also opt to use
smaller pieces of fitness equipment available today. These
include items such as resistance bands and exercise balls.

Do remember to think hard about what you want from fitness
equipment at home before you go out and buy a load of
machines that you will not use. It is better in some ways to
start off with one or two pieces of equipment here and then
to ramp up your purchases as you get into a regular fitness
regime and as your development progresses.

How To Set Up A Home Gym

So you've made the decision to set up a personal gym in your
home. Good for you! There are lots of home gyms out in the
market that also doubles as functional trainers. But what
exactly makes them better than just the average home gym
most people have? Well, let's find out.

Most functional home trainers are much easier to use than
traditional home gyms. It's intuitive designs make them
easier to figure out, as opposed to your regular home gym
machines that take a lot of time to get used to.

Functional trainers significantly lower the learning curve
required to adapt to a regular home gym, and also offers an
assortment of charts showing several easy exercises to start
you off. You can also increase the difficulty in these
exercises as you progress.

Another advantage is that most functional trainers are a lot
more compact than your average home gym. It makes it easier
to store in closets or small spaces, which is ideal if you
don't have a lot of free space, as in a condo.

Functional trainers also offer a lot more diversity compared
to older, more traditional home gyms. It offers a wider
array of exercises, unlike older home gyms that only lets
you do regular exercises like chest presses, leg curls, etc.
A functional trainer, with it's added handle and cable
settings, will allow you to customize your own set and type
of exercises. The different handles also allow you to work
your muscles in a multitude of ways.

And best of all, functional trainers also give you a better
deal for your money, compared to older, more traditional
home gym models. A functional trainer may retail at just
about the same price as a standard home gym, but just the
fact that it is more compact and lets you do more types of
exercises is ideal. You get more for your money for the
same price.

So there it is, why having a more modern functional trainer
is a better investment than traditional home gyms. I hope
these tips will help you make better purchasing decisions
next time you want to buy something at the fitness store.

Age - Destroy This Fitness Myth

Myth -- only the young should exercise and as one ages
muscle mass and strength cannot be increased anymore. This
has been negated by various studies in Harvard and other
places. It is plain myth and has no scientific basis.

With aging comes slowing metabolism, accumulation of fat,
clogged arteries, hypertension, thinning bones, sagging
muscles and skin, and a lot of other conditions. Exercise
can slow down the onset of these conditions. So who said
that those beyond 50 should not exercise anymore? In fact,
exercise can slow down or even reverse these unwanted
conditions.

Regular and age-appropriate exercise can help aging people
retard the onset of various age-related ailments. According
to the American College of Sports Medicine, aerobic or
oxygen enhancing exercise done 15-60 minutes a few days a
week is a great boost to one's health.

The safe maximum heart rate is 220 beats minus your present
age. When you are working out, you should target an increase
of between 60% and 90% of this safe maximum. What
cardiovascular exercises can you do? Brisk walking for 30
minutes or three 10-minute walks per day, mild jumping
jacks, gentle jogging in place, swimming, dancing are some
of these exercises. These exercises ensure a healthy heart
and blood vessels.

Other exercises that strengthen the muscles act to keep it
toned while keeping weight down and blood sugar at
appropriate levels. Exercises that develop balance can help
strengthen the muscles found in the legs, which can better
support the body and reduce the likelihood of falling. This
is good, especially since a good majority of broken hips
among the elderly is a result from the elderly falling.

It is recommended that in order to keep the muscles flexible
for movement and the joints lubricated, the elderly also do
a couple of static and dynamic stretches during their
workouts. This improves their ability to balance themselves,
but also to make it easier for them to move freely. This
will, on the overall, reduce the amount of pain they
experience as they go about their daily activities.

Endurance exercises help keep the heart and lungs healthy as
well as keeping muscles toned, joints moving freely and
other body systems functioning well. A slightly higher
metabolic rate stimulates a variety of organs to produce
needed biochemicals. The human body functions better, longer
when it is subject to mild activity than when sedentary for
long periods.

All these activities help raise the onset age of
osteoporosis and to minimize its effects after it begins.
Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus is less likely for
the physically active. Certain forms of heart disease are
less likely for those who exercise moderately later in life.

Many elderly people experience episodes of depression and
low morale because they are left with no family and friends
most of the time. There is evidence that with mild and
regular exercise, these episodes are minimized.

You should consult a physician or trainer (preferably both)
before starting any new exercise program. Begin slowly,
especially if exercise has not been part of your lifestyle.
Build up flexibility, strength and endurance gradually.

If you have a medical condition, be sure to discuss your
plans with a physician and sports expert to develop an
exercise routine appropriate to you.

5 Types Of Home Exercise Equipment

It seems like many people have similar goals about their
bodies - lose weight,
(http://www.physicalassets.com/products/) strength training
or tone up, but fewer and fewer people are opting to join
gyms to try and reach their goals. Some people don't live
close enough to a gym to make that option feasible and some
people just simply can't afford the monthly dues. If you
have a goal of getting in better shape, but for one reason
or another can't or won't join a gym there are several
viable options you can have at home to help you achieve all
of your fitness goals.

Treadmills

There are few activities that burn calories as well as
running, if you've got some extra weight that you want to
lose or if you just want to get into the best cardiovascular
condition that you possibly can - then running is
an obvious choice to get you to your goal. Running (or
walking for that matter) is an activity that almost anyone
can do without a gym or fancy equipment. The problem with
outdoor running is that weather conditions can ruin your
workout.

A treadmill can be an inexpensive way to be able to do your
running/walking workout without having to worry about the
weather forecast. Rain or shine; wind or cold - it makes no
difference, with a treadmill you'll be able to get a great
workout without leaving your home.

Ellipticals

Elliptical machines offer a cardio workout that can rival
that of a good run or walk. Elliptical machines can cost a
bit more than a lower end treadmill but they do offer one
unique advantage - next to no impact. If you've had a
history of joint pain or problems that preclude you from
high impact exercises like running then an elliptical
machine may be just the thing you need to get a great cardio
workout.

Exercise Bikes

Exercise bikes come in all shapes and sizes and are another
great low-impact alternative to running for cardio workouts.
Biking is an excellent activity to burn calories and build
overall health, but it's wise to "try before you buy" if at
all possible. All exercise bikes may not be comfortable to
all people and the last thing you want when trying to get a
good workout is to be stuck atop an uncomfortable apparatus.
If the store has a display model, give it a quick spin and
make sure that there are several adjustments to accommodate
people of different heights and sizes.

Home Gyms

If part of your goal is to build a bit of muscle, then a
home gym might be the right piece of equipment for you.
There are literally dozens of different brands and models to
choose from, each with different accessories and attachments
to accommodate even the most complex workout routines in a
limited amount of space. It's a good idea to read some
customer reviews before buying to try and gauge the ease of use
of each home gym. Some systems come with resistance bands,
weight stacks or resistance wheels - you want something that
will be user friendly so completing your workout is a
pleasure rather than a hassle.

Spinners

Spinners are like a newer, more advanced version of an
exercise bike. Some models offer wide ranges of adjustable
resistance and tons of extra added amenities that you
wouldn't normally find on a run of the mill indoor cycle.
Some spinners are designed to give you the feel that you
are actually out cycling and riders can get a ride along with
DVDs that virtually put you in different locations and situations
while working out. If you think that traditional indoor cycling is
too boring to hold your attention, than a spinner might be a

better choice.

Whatever your workout or fitness goal is, with the types and
varieties of equipment available - you certainly don't need
to spend the money or waste the time traveling to a gym -
you can get an excellent and tremendously effective workout
right in the comfort of your own home.

Balance Training - Get A Complete Workout

Athletes in any sport must focus on several areas of the
body during their training. A strength-based workout
consists of much more than basic stamina and physical
strength; you can train for boxing by using kettle bells,
power bags and boxing rings to focus on your upper body.

This process will enable you to work on your flexibility,
provide a total body workout and will help you to become
aware of mobility limits. One simple way to achieve this is
to focus on balance training in your workout.

Balance training is used by many athletes, martial artists
and physical therapists around the world. It is a
concentrated focus on your body, of maintaining position and
coordination through time and movement. The power bag is one
example and is a useful tool that can be included in your
stretches before and after working out and it can be used
with equipment or be used free standing.

The balance ball is another example. This tool will stretch out
under-used muscles and help to increase movement, which will
limit any muscle adhesion.

While useful, balance training isn't something that you can
just rush into. Many physical trainers will tell you
outright what balance exercises will work for you and which
ones to avoid, as well as which ones can be dangerous based
on your current level of training.

As always, any training should be done in moderation and all
athletes should ease into their training as they go. Always
consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.

The use of balance training combined with other,
muscle-group orientated training will have a
significant impact on your results.