Exercise plays an important role in keeping your body healthy and disease free. In fact, exercise is so important that the U.S. government has instated specific guidelines through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suggesting that all Americans get between 150 and 300 minutes of moderately intense exercise every week. One of the most common places that is used to reach this goal are local gyms and fitness centers. This is due to the availability of a wide range of exercise equipment.
Aerobic
Aerobic exercise equipment or "cardio" equipment is found in every gym and can vary widely depending on the establishment. Common pieces of equipment include treadmills and stair steppers, which create aerobic exercise through up and down motions and impact with the ground, as well as ellipticals and stationary bicycles that use resistance and circular motion to achieve aerobic exercise.
Free Weights
Free weights include equipment such as dumbbells, kettle balls and barbells. Each free weight can be used in several different positions and forms to work different muscle groups. In some cases, free weights may be accompanied by supporting pieces of equipment to better work specific muscle groups such as an incline bench, leg press or bench press equipment.
Weight Machines
Weight machines provide many of the same benefits as free weights but are more focused. For example, instead of using one weight for several exercises, exercise machines may focus specifically on the calves, glutes, biceps, triceps, pectorals, or shoulders by using a unique set up of pulleys and weights or resistance bands to target the desired muscle. A weight machine also provides more stability and rarely require a spotter to operate.
Water Equipment
Many fitness centers are also equipped with swimming pool that work for aerobic and strength training through swimming, as well as for use in water aerobics. Equipment used for water aerobics includes aqua bells, which help increase resistance in the water when exercising the arms and shoulders, and ankle weights which help increases the resistance when exercising the legs. Water noodles are also commonly used to help assist in water aerobics classes.
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