If Jane Fonda married a professional bodybuilder, the Skorcher would be their love child. Best described as a Roman Chair machine on steroids, the Skorcher infuses the classic, "work for the burn," hip thrust exercise with testosterone. Personal trainer Bret Contreras, known in bodybuilding circles as the "Glute Guy," designed the Skorcher exercise machine.
History
Bret Contreras opened Lifts, his Scottsdale, Arizona personal training studio, in 2007. He attracted a female clientele concerned with toning their gluteal muscles. Contreras designed the Skorcher to fulfill their fitness goals, and spread the buzz about his product by writing articles in various fitness magazines, blogs and websites. He hired Human Performance and Wellness Biomechanics, a fitness-consulting firm, to test the device for safety and efficiency. As the Skorcher gained momentum, investors approached Contreras. One wanted him to design a home exercise version of the Skorcher, and the other wanted to develop a franchise for his Lifts personal training studio. Contreras agreed, but one the economy went sour, both investors pulled out of their deals. The Skorcher therefore does not have an official manufacturer or website, but eBay, Craig's List and independent fitness equipment sites occasionally have models available.
Identification
The Skorcher features a pad to support your upper body, a space in the middle and two foot support pads. The device also comes with a wide, flat foot board, which, in some exercises, substitutes for the foot pads. The bottom of the machine has special attachment devices for resistance bands.
Function
Contreras created the Skorcher as a butt-toning device, but soon discovered its potential for abdominal, upper body and leg exercise. From the supine and side-lying position, it works as an abdominal and oblique machine. The Skorcher also functions as a weight bench for the bench-press exercise. Advanced bodybuilders secure power bands to the bottom of the machine, attach the opposite end of the band to the barbell, thereby turning the traditional bench press into an accommodating resistance exercise, which increases or decreases the resistance according to the strength curve.
Theories/Speculation
Contreras developed the Skorcher as a means of enhancing the hip thrust, which he believes is one the most effective gluteal exercises. Hip thrusts are a variation on the gluteal bridge exercise, but instead of lying flat on the floor, you sit up with your knees bent and your feet on the floor, and lean your upper body against a bench or box. Exercises like the squat and lunge also work the gluteal muscles, but people with weak glutes and hamstrings may find that their quadriceps and hip flexors overcompensate during these exercises. The hip thrust exercise did have one problem. As a body weight exercise, it was difficult to make it more challenging. The Skorcher solved the problem by increasing the exercise's range of motion. The space between the upper body support and the foot pads allows you to lower your hips closer to the ground. The gluteal muscles must therefore work harder to raise the hips.
Considerations
The Skorcher equipment may be hard to find, but resting your upper body against a couch and placing your feet on a bench produces similar effects. Likewise, resting your torso against a stability ball, and contracting your buttocks to lift your hips provides effective gluteal exercise, while imposing a balance challenge that requires you to engage your core muscles.
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