By far, the biggest advantage of creating your own personalized home gym is the massive and significant convenience factor. Your favorite machines and strength tools are right in your basement gym, or office space.

You don’t have to drive in weather conditions to your new gym. Additionally, there will never be a long wait for your favorite treadmill or elliptical machine, unless other family members are hogging your super-slick new home gym!

The perfect home gym should have all your favorite fitness gadgets and tools because you can create one using affordable exercise equipment or even gently used home exercise machines. After deciding on the major decisions – such as a bike or a treadmill as your mainstay machine, for instance, try exploring of the different weight accessories, mats and kettle bells to round out your perfect home gym.

Questions to consider before making a purchase:

What are my goals for the workout?

How much weight lifting experience do I have?

How much available room in my home/office/garage do I have?

What is my budget?

What exercises am I going to focus on more?

These are all huge, motivating  factors that come into play when you are deciding which home exercise equipment would be best for you, and anyone else in your active home.

Cardio Cross Training 

Treadmills are the most popular fitness machines in North America, and year after year but elliptical machines are right behind, and they are safer and easier on the joints of your lower body.

— Treadmill features we love: Incline settings that range from 3% to 15% uphill, a more compact footprint for tight spaces, and multiple settings beyond manual. 

— Elliptical machines, on the other hand, offer a safe, low-impact workout and the calorie-torching gliding motions allow you to work up quit a sweat without the constant pounding or jarring on your joints from running outside. Also, ellipticals lend themselves to multitasking, in case you are the type to watch the nightly news or even “Survivor” reruns while you break your seat.

— Rowing machines can help improve your fitness level in a variety of ways; they can build and tone muscles, strengthen cardiovascular function, and improve endurance. It’s a great way to burn calories. You may also try jump ropes, kickboxing or flow Pilates DVDs, and a heavy bag as other cross-training options.

Multi-Use Strength Station

Total-body gyms with adjustable rings, pulleys and bars are often suitable for the entire family and can work with all different fitness levels from beginners all the way to athletic training performance. Strength stations often fold up to provide you with easy and convenient storage We like the ones that come with leg pull accessories, squat stand, exercise feedback and a sturdy training deck.

Other resistance fitness equipment to customize a home gym:

Core training tools such as an Ab Wheel or an ab bench

Dumbbells, kettle bells and/or resistance bands and tubing

Stretching mats, yoga blocks and a pull-up bar

Sturdy Suspension Trainer or Cable Machine

One of the which is the most versatile, durable and cost-effective suspension trainers for home is the TRX Suspension Trainer that includes the actual lightweight trainer, a door anchor, a suspension anchor extender, a mesh carry bag, and a full-color 35 page workout guide to get started. The TRX sets up in seconds and offers a head-to-toe strength workout that will never bore you.

When you start choosing exercise equipment for your home, always keep in mind your overarching fitness goals, like weight loss or muscle building, or a balance of gym equipment for various types of high-tech workouts. Whether whether you’re looking to jumpstart your cardio endurance or come out of the winter season with a set of washboard abs, there’s something in every home gym that can help you on your way.

Try soOlis’ side-by-side equipment comparisons.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with “The Biggest Loser” to help introduce people to healthier habits,” explains Roy Xia, executive director of China-based Active Lifestyle Ltd. “We are even more pleased to be able to showcase the sleek, durable, and motivational Star Trac cardio and strength equipment to help contestants achieve their fitness goals. There is no better product to inspire new exercisers to stay on a fit and healthy path.”

Over the course of the 10-week season, participants and trainers will work out on Star Trac cardio, including the E Series treadmills and steppers that feature motivational workout programs, personal cooling fans, and iPod® integration; S Series bikes and ellipticals that provide comfort features like SoftTrac® foot pads (on the elliptical) and extra large pedals (on the bikes) to achieve maximum results; and Spinner® bikes for exhilarating indoor cycle classes. For the strength component, “The Biggest Loser” contestants will train on a full circuit of the aesthetically sophisticated and functionally superior

Inspiration Strength®, a comprehensive selection of Star Trac free weights, and the Max Rack®, which combines the variety of a Power Cage with the safety of a Smith Machine.

“Active Lifestyle is a premier fitness distributor in China and a true partner to Star Trac,” said Steven Jones, director of sales and marketing Asia Pacific for Star Trac. “When they presented us the opportunity to work together to provide equipment for “The Biggest Loser” fitness center, we knew it was a valuable chance to introduce a new audience to fitness through innovative products that motivate people to achieve their goals.”

Over the course of its 15 seasons on television, Star Trac products have been featured in the past as part of the US edition of “The Biggest Loser,” providing contestants with inspiring, approachable, and challenging workout options to help them begin to change sedentary ways.

“Our passion for providing products and programs to mold lifelong habits for health and fitness is parallel with the ultimate goal of “The Biggest Loser”, explains Star Trac senior marketing manager Vanessa Klapper. “As a company, we want to introduce as many people as possible to the benefits of fitness to help them achieve their wellness goals, so this partnership with Active Lifestyle and “The Biggest Loser” in China is a natural fit, and one that we are proud to support.”

The Biggest Loser premieres on Sunday, September 15 at 7:30PM on CC-TV2 and will run for 10 weeks, culminating with one person being named “The Biggest Loser” for the highest percentage of weight lost.

About Star Trac

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Since 1979, Star Trac has been a leader in developing advanced equipment for the fitness industry, focused on providing products and programs to mold lifelong habits for health and fitness. Its user- focused product innovations are reflected in the complete line of cardiovascular and strength equipment.

Star Trac’s cardio line includes a full range of offerings including treadmills, cross trainers, upright and recumbent bikes, steppers and group cycle bikes. The company is proud to offer one of a kind features like the revolutionary Star Trac Coach™, a personalized treadmill workout led by a professional coach and the groundbreaking eSpinner® and Spinner® Blade ION innovations resulting from the long running relationship between Star Trac and Mad Dogg Athletics. And this year Star Trac will enter yet into another cardio category with the introduction of its new StairMill™ and TreadClimber® manufactured by Star Trac.

Star Trac offers one of the largest strength training packages in the industry; three lines of selectorized strength including the Inspiration Strength® line that takes aesthetics, biomechanics, and features to the next level. A 6 piece dual-function, cable-based line that acts as 12 workout stations called
HumanSport®. The newest plate loaded line, Leverage®, that embodies the design and features that will redefine the plate loaded strength training category. And to round out the strength category Star Trac offers a full line of benches and racks to meet the needs of any facility. The many options available by Star Trac allow customers the ability to design their dream facility. The company looks forward to
introducing more innovative products in 2013.

The vision of the company is to increase the number of people who adopt a healthy and active lifestyle by lowering the barriers and improving the experience and results. Today more than four million people in over 75 countries use Star Trac exercise equipment daily, enjoying its unparalleled functionality and style. For more information about Star Trac contact sales@startrac.com or visit www.startrac.com.

IRVINE, Calif., October 24, 2012–Las Vegas was hopping in October for the 2012 Club Industry Show. Fitness owners and operators from all parts of the country attended  the event and were excited to see Star Trac’s New TreadClimber®. Industrial Designer, Victor Cornejo, and Mechanical Design Engineer Maxwell Gilmore were on-hand to assist onlookers with the new alpha prototype of the TreadClimber.

Attendees spent time learning about the mechanics of the TreadClimber as well as physically testing it out. The reviews are in and the TreadClimber was a hit.

Here’s what people were saying:“The product was such a great workout that Patchel Evans, owner and founder of GoodLife, came back on Friday and used it as his workout for the day,” shared Michael Bruno, Founder of Core Industries DBA Star Trac.Brett Athey, CEO of Glide exclaimed, “These guys figured it out! They did it!”

“Everyone loved the look and feel of the TreadClimber. The number one question was: when can I get one? Many commented “This unit feels better than ever before”. Even Star Trac’s competitors came over to try it out wanting to find out more about the product. It was a great show,” said Victor Cornejo, Star Trac Industrial Designer.

“The industry response to the progress of the TreadClimber was fantastic, we had so many positive responses to both the mechanical design and the overall look that we couldn’t be happier,” shared Jeff Dilts, Star Trac’s Senior Director of Marketing & Product Management.

The industry response comes as no surprise given the products efficiency. The TreadClimber promises to burn significantly more calories than a similar treadmill workout with a lower perceived exertion. It enables the user to work harder, burn more calories…in a fraction of the time.

Functionally the TreadClimber moves like a treadmill and an elliptical preserving the best of both due to the exclusive patented  motion of the decks. Other benefits include more flexion at the hip and knee for more muscle engagement and a better overall lower body workout.

The TreadClimber is scheduled to launch to the general public at the IHRSA 2013 International Convention and Trade Show.For more information about the TreadClimber or to find out more information about Star Trac’s products and services call 1-800-228-6635 or visit www.startrac.com.

About Star Trac Since 1979, Star Trac has been a leader in developing advanced equipment for the fitness industry, focused on providing products and programs to mold lifelong habits for health and fitness. Its user-focused product innovations are reflected in the complete line of cardiovascular and strength equipment.

Star Trac’s cardio line includes a full range of offerings including treadmills, cross trainers, upright and recumbent bikes, steppers and group cycle bikes.  The company is proud to offer one of a kind features like the revolutionary Star Trac Coach™, a personalized treadmill workout led by a professional coach and  the groundbreaking eSpinner® and Spinner® Blade innovations resulting from the long running relationship between Star Trac and Mad Dogg Athletics. And this year Star Trac will enter yet into another cardio category with the introduction of its new StairMill.

Star Trac offers one of the largest strength training packages in the industry; three lines of selectorized strength including the Inspiration Strength® line that takes aesthetics, biomechanics, and features to the next level. A 6 piece dual-function, cable-based line that acts as 12 workout stations called HumanSport®.  The newest plate loaded line, Leverage®, that embodies the design and features that will redefine the plate loaded strength training category.  And to round out the strength category Star Trac offers a full line of benches and racks to meet the needs of any facility.   The many options available by Star Trac allow customers the ability to design their dream facility. The company looks forward to introducing more innovative products in 2013.

The vision of the company is to increase the number of people who adopt a healthy and active lifestyle by lowering the barriers and improving the experience and results.  Today more than four million people in over 75 countries use Star Trac exercise equipment daily, enjoying its unparalleled functionality and style. For more information about Star Trac call 1-800-228-6635 or visit www.startrac.com.

treadmill and stair climbing movements into a user preference motion. “This is a natural fit for us, where Star Trac is a leading innovator of treadmills, and StairMaster is a leading innovator in StepMills and Stepper products,” stated Bruno, who owns both brands under the Core Health and Fitness company. “We have strong product development and manufacturing resources to dedicate to this development,” stated Bruno. “Nautilus is pleased to enter into this relationship with Core Health and Fitness”, said Bill McMahon, Chief Operating Officer for Nautilus.  “TreadClimber was extremely popular with consumers in the commercial setting and we believe that many fitness club members will be excited to see the product and technology return. We believe that greater exposure of consumers to the TreadClimber modality is positive for the commercial market as well as our own consumer channel where Nautilus markets several models of TreadClimber directly for home use.”

About Core Health and Fitness

Core Health and Fitness, LLC, is the corporate holding group for both the Star Trac and StairMaster

brands, leaders in developing advanced equipment in both cardio and strength products for the fitness industry.  The companies user-focused product innovations are reflected in their complete line of cardiovascular and strength equipment, including the revolutionary Star Trac Coach™ a personalized treadmill workout led by a professional coach, Inspiration Strength™ line that takes aesthetics, biomechanics and features to the next level, and the StairMaster SM5 offering the latest user focused innovations in the StepMill category.  More than four million people in over 75 countries use Core Health and Fitness equipment daily, enjoying its unparalleled functionality and style. For more information about Star Trac, visit www.startrac.com.  For more information about StairMaster, visit www.stairmaster.com.

‘ We couldn’t be more pleased with the breadth of our brand offerings and our new partnership with Life Fitness.” says Mr., Burgess “After experiencing Life Fitness’s Chicago, II manufacturing facilities last month, I know why they are the industry’s global leader of fitness products they are absolutely driven by product quality.” “To my knowledge, Life Fitness is the only fully certified ISO-9001 company in the fitness industry.

About Life Fitness

Life Fitness is the global leader in fitness equipment. The company manufactures and sells strength and cardiovascular equipment under the brand names Life Fitness and Hammer Strength and distributes its equipment in more than 120 countries. Headquartered outside of Chicago, in Schiller Park, IL, Life Fitness is a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC).

About Heartline

Since 1983, Heartline’s promise has been to design, distribute and service the highest quality of strength training and cardiovascular systems available. Through Heartline’s dealer and direct sales network, our products are sold internationally in Europe, Asia, South America, the United States and Canada. Our clients include such high profile organizations as: Associa, Marriott Hotels, and Kettler, Lincoln Properties, Paradigm Companies, Fairfax County Public School System, and the United States Supreme Court.

Top executives of Star Trac, including the new (Owner, Chairman and CEO), fitness manufacturing legend “Michael Bruno” along with his team, Rose Bravin (Managing Director Asia & Middle East) and Andy Richter (Vice President Key Accounts), were all in attendance to meet and greet Mr. Khammas and to celebrate the largest internal commercial territory agreement in the industry. AAHG has established a partnership with one of the worlds leading fitness manufacturers. Star Trac has always been known for their cutting edge innovation and use of technology in the commercial product line. In negotiations for nearly a year, the concluded agreement is in clear support of Star Trac’s endorsement of the Al Ahli Holding Groups growth in the industry and the aggressive nature of filling the need in the Global market space. Star Trac’s groundbreaking agreement expands with Al Ahli’s growing market presence in the fitness space via Gold’s Gym as it relates to their growth. The agreement is bound to direct sales within AAHG fitness properties in an expansive potential 106 countries. A ringing endorsement of the strength of Al Ahli as it pushes into new markets.

Al Ahli Holding Group, a multi-national company and a leader in the lifestyle and fitness arena in Pan Arabia, is on the move with the opening of three Gold’s Gym facilities in the next three to eleven months with many more to follow. With last years signing of Gold’s Gym’s largest master franchise deal slated for 26 gyms in major Arabian Peninsula markets and with further expansion to include the potential for an additional 62 gyms totaling 92 facilities over the next ten years, AAHG has risen to become the most serious player on the Pan Arabian and regional scene in fitness. This aggressive strategy makes them the largest single buyer of the world’s best fitness equipment brands. The strategy for the affiliations and relationships with the world’s best manufacturers was spawned by the quest for providing the best fitness experience with the best technology at the best price to both the AAHG/Gold’s Gym user client and the sub franchisee development partner.

AAHG continuously listens to the market and to their customer base; Mr. Khammas stated, “Our strive in providing excellence in the fitness space is driven by complete satisfaction and results for our clients. We allow our client base to continuously rate the products of the big five manufacturers and they decide the ranking and the direction of our purchases. What better place to announce this exciting set of partnerships then the world’s greatest fitness forum; IHRSA’s 30th anniversary show.”

About Al Ahli holding Group:From its ground breaking to the present day, the Al Ahli Group (http://alahliholdinggroup.com), expanded rapidly throughout its 43 years of operation to be one of the region’s most dynamic, innovative and multi-disciplined business entities. The Al Ahli Group has been instrumental in steering the cement industry throughout the region to unprecedented levels of production and sales. Other industries and services that the Al Ahli Group is involved in range from the largest plastic film manufacturing factory in the region, to printing and publishing, to an extensive transportation division, turn key construction, engineering products, factories, real estate and mix-used development in their US $1 Billion Dubai Outlet City Project (http://www.dubaioutletmall.com). Al Ahli was the first Pan Arabian company to attract and sign major intellectual property brands such as Marvel Entertainment and Nickelodeon. Al Ahli played important roles behind the scenes in securing other global brands as well for important strategic allies in the region.

Although Al Ahli Group is based in the U.A.E., representative offices are also operating throughout the Pan Arabian world, with a strong presence in Africa, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Europe, Latin & South America, South Korea and the USA. The Al Ahli Group remains a family owned business that values, quality, integrity and business ethics. With eight thousand employee partners strong, all the divisions of these diverse business entities are managed by the group directly and are controlled by its Chairman Mr. Nasser Ali Khammas and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mohamed Khammas.
About IHRSAThe International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association is the fitness industry’s only global trade association. IHRSA represents over 9,000 for profit health and fitness facilities and over 650 supplier companies in 75 countries.About Star TracSince 1979, Star Trac has been a leader in developing advanced equipment for the fitness industry, focused on providing products to mold lifelong habits for health and fitness. Its user-focused product innovations are reflected in the complete line of cardiovascular and strength equipment, including the revolutionary Star Trac Coach™, a personalized treadmill workout led by a professional coach, the groundbreaking eSpinner®, the newest Spinning® innovation resulting from the long running relationship between Star Trac and Mad Dogg Athletics, and the Inspiration Strength™ line that takes aesthetics, biomechanics, and features to the next level. More than four million people in over 75 countries use Star Trac exercise equipment daily, enjoying its unparalleled functionality and style.

Star Trac: For more information about Star Trac, which is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., call 1-800-228-6635 or visit www.startrac.com.

AAHG: Stephen R. DeMilta, President AAHG International, Stephen@alahligroup.com, 1+386-383-3104

Pilates IHRSA 2011

Livestrong Group Exercise Program IHRSA 2011

TRX Group Exercise Program IHRSA 2011

Spinning Classes by Star Trac IHRSA 2011

The Body Blade IHRSA 2011

Les Mills Group Exercise Programs IHRSA 2011

Batuka, Revolutionary Group X program, is a Big Hit at IHRSA 2011!

The Krank Gains Popularity at IHRSA 2011

Patchell Evans with Fit4Less in Canada and Mark Smith from the City fitness in New Zealand.

The agreement, reached during a meeting held Wednesday, March 16 on the IHRSA Convention floor, served as a monumental launch for the 30th IHRSA Convention and Trade Show and a triumph for Star Trac fitness, which Mr. Bruno acquired in July of 2010.

Each of the three club chains is planning for substantial growth in the next few years. Star Trac CEO Michael Bruno was upbeat upon concluding the deal saying, “Teaming up with Tony, Mark

and Patch, three of the most respected gentlemen in the industry, is an exciting venture that kicks this great show off with a bang. We at Star Trac are honored by this partnership.”

Industry veteran Mark Smith, who had a long relationship with the Star Trac brand during his tenure at TSI, was delighted by the agreement stating, “I am thrilled to be able to come full circle with Star Trac after my very successful partnership with them when running TSI. City Fitness now has a significant New Zealand presence, and the prospect of having exhibition facilities showcase Star Trac products is an exciting one.”

David Patchell Evans stated, “I have a lot of confidence in the new ownership and management of Star Trac and look forward to using it for our Fit4Less brand. It is another sign of our whole industry getting stronger after this recession.”

Echoing David Patchell Evans’ sentiments was Tony de Leede who said, “I and my team are very excited about working with Mike Bruno, Andy Richters and the Star Trac team in rapidly rolling out showcase clubs featuring Star Trac products.”

About Star Trac

Since 1979, Star Trac has been a leader in developing advanced equipment for the fitness industry, focused on providing products to mold lifelong habits for health and fitness. Its user-focused product innovations are reflected in the complete line of cardiovascular and strength equipment, including the revolutionary Star Trac Coach™, a personalized treadmill workout led by a professional coach, the groundbreaking eSpinner®, the newest Spinning® innovation resulting from the long running relationship between Star Trac and Mad Dogg Athletics, and the Inspiration Strength™ line that takes aesthetics, biomechanics, and features to the next level. More than four million people in over 75 countries use Star Trac exercise equipment daily, enjoying its unparalleled functionality and style. For more information about Star Trac, which is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., call 1-800-228-6635 or visit www.startrac.com.

About Cityfitness

Cityfitness, the fastest growing health club company in NZ, has been offering world class gym and fitness facilities for more than 15 years. Its gyms are located throughout New Zealand, currently at 16 clubs with plans to open another 3 over the next 12 months. The 5 year plan is to grow to 30 clubs.

About Fit n Fast

Fit n Fast is a new chain of health clubs launching into the Australian market with a new approach to fitness. Tony de Leede, former CEO of Fitness First and industry veteran, together with a small consortium of partners have founded the new concept in fitness, being “The Quickie” or “the 30 minute workout”, a cheaper, better and faster” approach to fitness. With at least 50 clubs planned to open over the next year.

soOlis.com had arranged table top signage opportunities with several of the large fitness equipment manufactures, True Fitness, Octane Fitness, Wooodway,  Star Trac, Keiser Fitness,  and Sports Art.

“It was great to see the soOlis.com brand throughout the show.  The fitness equipment manufactures are always looking for new and initiative ways to promote their product and they understand soOlis.com is just here to help them promote their products,” said Brad Bishop President of soOlis.com.  We have worked extremely hard to get to this point and we appreciate the recognition we have received from the manufactures.  We look forward to growing our relationship with all of the equipment manufactures in the near future”