Proper Way To Fold Up a Total Gym

African American man resting in health club on weight-lifting bench

The Total Gym is an at-home piece of exercise equipment that uses the weight of your body as resistance. It consists of a bench that slides and cables that you hold onto to create the movement. For such a simple piece of equipment, the Total Gym is not limited in its exercises. It allows you to move through a full range of motion in various angles to tone and strengthen your total body. Plus, when you're finished with your exercise session, the Total Gym folds up for easy storage under a bed or in a closet.

Remove all the accessories and attachments including the wings, legs and flip chart.

Attach the arm pulley cable to the underside of the glide board.

Release the safety hitch and safety pin from the vertical column.

Step one foot on the back crossbar to hold the Total Gym in place. Hold onto the top rail with one hand. Grasp the height-adjustment, quick-release pin. Release the pin and slowly lower the rails. Rest them on the back crossbar.

Pull out the spring-loaded pin on the bottom of the left side rail. Keep the pin pulled out. Hold onto the vertical rail with your other hand. Fold down the vertical height adjustment toward the center of the Total Gym. Release the pin and hear it click in place.

Position the glide board at the bottom of the Total Gym. Hold onto the top of the glide board and gently pull up on the Total Gym as the rollers -- located near the back of the glide board -- slide across the floor and toward the back crossbar. Stop when it is 12 inches from the bar.

Slowly roll the bars next to each other to completely fold the unit. Lay it on the floor and store it under a bed or in a closet.

Warnings

Hold onto the top of the glideboard when you slide the Total Gym closed to avoid pinching your fingers.