DUMBBELLS

Dumbbells are one of the cheapest gym equipment one can get for strength building and muscle building. They are very portable and quite easy to transport. Depending on what the target of your exercise is you will need to choose one that most fits what you aim to achieve. If you plan on building a lot of muscle then you need to look out for heavier and bigger dumbbells but if a lady doesn’t want to look muscular but probably just wants to tone flabby arms then she would be on the look-out for lighter dumbbells like the 5-10 pound weights. If you’re looking to be

Cap Dumbbells

economical but want to invest in dumbbells that the entire family can use, then you should probably be looking at an adjustable dumbbell kit that comes in stackable weights discs or plates. Secondly you want to make sure the grip feels right for you. If you have sweaty palms, it’s probably best if you got those with foam grips, otherwise you could just go ahead and test your grips on a few and pick whatever contours nicely or fits snugly into your palm so accidents are minimized.

CROSSTRAINERS

Life Fitness Cross Trainer

When buying cross trainers, you will want to make sure that you get one from a reputable brand. This is because these companies have spent money and time researching different ways to give you the right exercise equipment thatis safe yet very effective while generic brands do not really have customer satisfaction but profit maximization astheir end goal. Also make sure that you buy from a company that service their products in case you need to get an adjustment or replace worn out parts and of course you will also engages as many muscles as possible during your workout.

BOSU BALLS

There are basically two types; the Bosu Balance trainer and the Bosu Ballast ball. If you are a beginner, then you will want to start with the Bosu Ballast ball. It does not roll out of place so you do not have to struggle too much for balance. On the other hand the Bosu balance trainer was designed to take a lot of beating so if you are looking to work on your balance, engage in more core work, then the Bosu balance trainer is your best bet.

For more information regarding exercise equipment, gyms and more visit www.soOlis.com or contact soOlis @ info@soOlis.com.

Specialty Training Programs

No two people are going to start the exact same workout program at the exact same time, so finding gyms that are able to come up with a training regimen that works for your schedule and provides the help you need is important. Maybe you prefer yoga classes or you are a Pilates freak. Or perhaps you are curious about the benefits of Crossfit programs. The best gyms are those that can accommodate a variety of fitness plans.

Top Notch Trainers

Having a top notch trainer to help you through the process of becoming fit is crucial. We all struggle to motivate ourselves from time to time, so the presence of an experienced trainer who can whip you into the proper shape is always necessary. If you are someone who needs help getting started or wishes to learn more about the best ways to work out, choose a gym with a quality training staff.

Amenities On Site

Every person has different needs when they head out to the gym. Some may require free parking, while others need to join a gym with a sauna that is fully equipped. The time to find out about whether the gyms you are considering are capable of meeting your needs is during the selection process, not after. Some may only need a bare bones gym with the basics, while others will require a massage therapist, state of the art locker room, a pool or even a nutritionist.

State Of The Art Fitness Equipment

Be sure to thoroughly inspect the weights and any other exercise equipment that you will be using during your visits. If the gym has the right equipment, do they have enough to go around? Many of us do not have enough time on our hands to wait for long periods of time if equipment is occupied. Whether you are into building muscles or you are looking for a place to do your cardiovascular workouts, take a close look at the equipment you are going to be utilizing.

Overall Convenience

Is the gym close to where you live? Is it busy or crowded during the times that you like to go? All of the great equipment, amenities and staff that gyms have to offer are of little help to those who cannot make the trip on a regular basis. Consider the location of the gym and your schedule before making a choice.

To find the gyms that meet all the above criteria visit www.soOlis.com/gyms or email info@soOlis.com.

Eight years after vibration training came to the U.S. fitness world, the genre has matured, toned down its hype about all-things-to-all-people, and begun to penetrate the home retail market.

At the Health & Fitness Business show, for example, there were six different companies with equipment compared to none five years ago by SNEWS’ count. At the IHRSA show in March 2010 there were, by several counts, six companies offering trainers, all very high-end.

As the market grows and matures, different brands are still trying to find the best way to approach potential users and sell the training modality, while finding their own niche within the category.

“It’s a technology that can be of extreme benefit to tons of people,” said Christian Reichardt, founder and president of PowerVibe USA (www.powervibeusa.com), which recently partnered with the former Teutonic Sales.

“Yes, whole body vibration can give you all the physiological benefits of exercise, but in a very short time frame,” he said. “Yes, it does that, but that’s what all exercise does. The message has to be rescripted.”

For example, as Power Plate (www.powerplateusa.com), the company that first introduced whole body vibration (WBV) to clubs in late 2002, continues to focus on the club and athlete’s market, companies like PowerVibe are eyeing the medical fitness segment and special populations, and DKN (www.dkn-usa.com) sees a lot of promise not only in the rehab area but also in the overall fitness and personal training market.

“Personal training studios love it,” said Chip Zielke, president and partner, who joined DKN earlier this year after a stint at Power Plate. He said it partners well in that situation in warm-ups and to complement stretches or other routines.

“Clubs just aren’t comfortable putting it on the floor unattended,” Zielke told SNEWS®. “There’s nothing intuitive about it. You have to understand how to use the product.”

Despite all the players trying to find the best direction, ideal market and fine-tuned marketing, one thing that has continued to push the category is its relative newness.

“Everybody always is looking for something new,” said Mark De Gorter, president of Power Plate North America, which calls the training mode “acceleration training.”

He said he agreed that the biggest challenge is communication and education.

“It was a different category to pin down,” De Gorter said. “Is it rehab? Is it individual? Is it group exercise? Is it strength? The industry struggled to find out where it fit.”

And then there’s, yes, price. Even Power Plate’s lowest-priced consumer piece is about $2,500 (going up to about $4,500). DKN drops down to about $1,250 (and up to about $4,000), while PowerVibe has pieces that go all the way down to $900 from a high of $2,500. Most equipment is simply a platform with various configurations of consoles and programming, although Power Plate introduced a piece this year with cables incorporated for additional functional training options.

Health & fitness benefits
Nobody really argues that WBV offers benefits to health and fitness. However, the debate continues — including in peer-reviewed, scientific journals — to what extent and for whom.

“Whole body vibration can be an asset in your quest for health and well-being,” Reichardt said. “We never say this is the only thing you need.”

Reichardt noted he believes that the populations that are best-suited for WBV are inactive people who need to get started exercising, but may find other forms too difficult. WBV can be a step into other forms of exercise.

“It’s not a panacea,” he added. “But it can be a tremendous asset if used correctly.”

Over the last few years, SNEWS has reviewed various medical and fitness studies and summarized them in articles.

>> In a Health Notes article from Aug. 22, 2008, we found one study that noted it may benefit older adults and unfit people but less so the younger or more fit.

>> In our then-annual summer magazine in 2006, we analyzed the benefits and pieces and also reviewed some of the recent literature. We found there are – or were at that time – a lot of holes in the studies. Click here to see that “web extra” that accompanied our July 2006 GearTrends article.

>> In a study that we summarized in a March 2006 Health Notes column, researchers found the training modality may actually be too strong for many people although it did offer stimulation.

To learn more, PowerVibe has a large library of research studies open to consumershttp://www.powervibeusa.com/learning-center/research-studies, as does Power Plate on its websitehttp://www.powerplate.com/us/benefits/research.