Depending on which Gazelle exercise machine model you buy, you will be able to do beginner, intermediate and advanced exercises for fitness. In 2009, the company making the Gazelle discontinued models with resistance, eliminating the muscle toning and building benefits. If you can find an older model Gazelle for sale on the Internet, you will be able to create more well-rounded workout. If you buy a new model, you'll be limited to a repetitious cardio workout.
Multi-User Machine
If you have a Gazelle model with multiple resistance settings, the machine will be useful for beginners, intermediates and competitive athletes. The Gazelle Power Plus, for example, offers four resistance settings. The first setting provides little resistance and lets someone new to exercise work the pedals and levers easily without fatiguing. This lets beginners create longer workouts so they can build stamina and endurance. Putting the resistance on the fourth level requires you to use considerable muscular effort to move the machine, creating a helpful muscular endurance workout and some muscle building. Between those two settings are resistance levels that give you the ability to create a cardio workout and tone muscle.
Lack of Resistance
Organizations such as the Mayo Clinic recommend cardio exercise with some resistance, and new Gazelle models offer no other resistance than your body's weight. If you fatigue on a Gazelle, you may find yourself using the machine's momentum to propel you part way, instead of only muscle.
Monotony
The Gazelle has only one motion, a back-and-forth motion similar to cross-country skiing. Unless you have an exercise DVD or manual, or have someone to show you the variety of different exercises you can do on a Gazelle, the machine can become boring.
Specific Muscle Targeting
By changing your arm and feet position on the Gazelle, you can target specific muscles for toning. If you raise your heels off the pedals, you will use more calves. If you lean forward and use your arms to move the levers while you use less leg movement, you will work your biceps and chest. If you move your elbows out, you will engage the lats, shoulders and triceps. If you lean back on the leg and use more leg effort, you will work your hamstrings, buttocks and hip flexors. Holding long strides works your core muscles. Turning sideways on the pedals lets you work your inner and outer thighs.
Injury
The Gazelle is a non-impact exercise machine, keeping both feet on the pedals the entire time. Because the machine keeps your legs fairly straight, with little knee bend, this may irritate your shins. If you have a Gazelle with resistance, or you use the machine until you are very tired, you may start making compensatory movements to help you finish your reps. This often includes a twisting of the back and thrusting of the hips, common in other exercises as a means of propelling your forward when your arms or abdominal muscles are fatigued. If used properly the Gazelle should not cause a repetitive stress injury.
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