Circuit machines are pieces of exercise equipment that are generally used for Circuit Training. This form of training became possible when Arthur Jones created the Nautilus weight machine. Free weights versus machines has been a controversial battle among trainees, athletes and trainers ever since. Circuit machines allow for perfect form and do not put as much stress on the body as free weights. Whether that is a good or bad thing is still undecided. However, the machines require very little setup, which allows trainees to move from one to the next with very little rest time between exercises. Circuit training was born of this marriage between weight-training and the aerobic benefits of continuous motion. The station approach to weight-training involves 3 to 5 sets of the same exercise performed with rest periods in-between. Circuit training involves 8 to 12 exercises that are done back to back until one circuit is complete. Generally up to 3 circuits are recommended. Weight-training in this fashion allows you to get the benefits of training your muscles along with the aerobic effects of keeping your heart rate elevated through constant motion.
What to Look for
There are many variations of Circuit Machines. And because there is not just one perfect exercise to target each muscle group, there are multiple machines for the legs, abdominal muscles, chest, arms, shoulders and back. Popular machines are the bench press, pec deck, shoulder press, lat pull-down, arm curl, abdominal crunch, leg extension, leg curl, leg press and calf machines. Each machine is typically intended for only one particular exercise. Since it is calibrated and designed for that exercise only, it is unsafe to attempt to perform other exercises on the same machine. For this reason Circuit Machines can be very impractical for a home gym. They are large and take up a lot of space. As for price, you can expect to pay anywhere from $300 to thousands of dollars for these machines, depending on their design and function. Unless you have a very large space allocated for your home gym, Circuit Machines are probably an impractical choice. Although some do incorporate several exercises into one machine, which can save space and be tucked into a corner of a basement or garage. Sporting goods stores and fitness retailers are the best place to look. Make sure that they deliver and assemble the unit, because they can be heavy and complicated.
Common Pitfalls
The problem with Circuit Machines for personal use is that very few people can afford or find space for enough machines to provide a full body workout. The combination units are often far inferior to the machines at your local gym. Machines break frequently and they are difficult to repair. Make sure that you are purchasing a quality machine that you can rely on. It might be a good idea to see about paying extra to include service if the unit breaks. In general, circuit training is a healthy way to incorporate aerobic and anaerobic exercise for time efficient workouts. However, a common mistake is thinking that you cannot rest between exercises. Short rest periods are often essential for catching your breath and ensuring optimal performance on the next exercise. Another common mistake is that circuit trainers can get caught in doing the same exercises over and over. Make sure to change the selected exercises to keep your body guessing and ensure optimal results from your circuit training. As always, safety is the number one priority when performing any kind of exercise program.
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