Many people are confused when they first visit a gym. They see rows and rows of complicated-looking devices and wonder how they'll ever get through a workout. The best method to acquaint yourself with gym equipment is to hire a personal trainer to show you how different pieces of equipment work and to advise you on which types of exercises you should focus on to achieve your personal-fitness goals.
Resistance Machines
Resistance machines use pulleys and cables to lift weights. Some resistance machines use bands or large metal bows to supply resistance, rather than stacks of weights. These types of equipment are suitable for those who want to build strength and tone muscles. If you are a novice weightlifter, you'll benefit from using resistance machines because they force the user to perform each exercise in a particular way, minimizing improper form. Commercial gyms offer a variety of resistance machines, each of which target a specific body part. Typically, a machine will have an instruction panel or sticker that explains which muscle groups it exercises and illustrates how to use the machine.
Free Weights
The advantage of using free weights to build strength and tone muscles is that you can create a custom workout that incorporates a full range of motion for each exercise. In contrast to resistance machines, which limit your movements, free-weight exercises are boundless. Seasoned weightlifters who know how to perform an exercise properly benefit from free weights because they can customize a workout to tests their muscles in a range of directions. Typical free-weight equipment includes weight plates, barbells, dumbbells, medicine balls and kettlebells.
Aerobic Exercise Machines
Many people who want to tone their muscles and burn calories for weight loss use cardiovascular exercise machines. A treadmill is perhaps the most common example. You can set the incline and speed of the treadmill to suit your personal workout goals. Stationary bicycles use pedals that offer resistance, allowing you to focus primarily on a lower-body workout. Elliptical machines are similar, but they also incorporate arm movement. Rowing machines allow you to mimic the activity of rowing a boat with various degrees of intensity.
Equipment Selection
If you have a specific goal in mind, it's tempting to work out with just a few types of gym equipment. For example, if you want to build your biceps, you might spend most of your time using a bicep-curl machine. A better approach, however, is to seek a balanced workout that exercises opposing muscles as well. Use a large enough variety of gym machines and equipment to exercise all your major muscle groups. For instance, instead of focusing solely on your biceps, spend some time with a triceps-exercise machine. Alternate the muscle groups you exercise to allow for at least a day of rest between workouts.
Member Comments