Fitness Equipment

With the emphasis on exercise to promote health, many people are purchasing fitness equipment that they can use in their own homes. Equipment is available to strengthen and tone all the muscles in the body and to strengthen the cardio vascular system. Also available are a range of fitness acessories that include anything from heart rate monitors and pedometers to mats and skipping ropes.

Cardio-vascular Equipment

Amongst the most popular home fitness equipment, Cardiovascular systems are designed to raise your heart rate and provide low impact workouts - placing less strain on joints. Their purpose is to help you burn calories and strengthen heart muscle - assisting weight loss and reducing risk of cardiovascular disease. Includes treadmills, elliptical trainers, exercise bikes, rowing machines and steppers. Most cardiovascular equipment features sophisticated computerised training programmes, heart rate monitors and software that automatically adjusts resistance or speed/elevation (treadmills).

Treadmills tend to be more expensive options but are nonetheless popular. Models that have well-cushioned running decks absorb the impact to joints more effectively. Most treadmills have preset programmes and an adjustable incline level to vary the intensity of the workout as well as heart rate tracking and heart rate programmes enabling you to monitor your effort level and ensure that you are not putting too great a strain on your heart. Tracking systems also enable you to track speed, time, distance, calories burnt.

Elliptical cross trainers are low impact, putting less strain on your joints. They offer total body conditioning helping to build and tone muscles, and enable you to effectively burn calories. They usually come with a number of resistance levels allowing you to exercise at different levels of intensity, and tracking systems that allow you to monitor your heart rate and track steps, time, distance and calories burnt. Many ellipticals fold up for easy storage.

Exercise bikes are also low impact machines. They promote lower body conditioning and provide a good cardiovascular workout. A programme of resistance levels allow you to exercise at different intensities. They include heart rate tracking and heart rate programmes and systems to track speed, time, distance, calories burnt. Usually come with adjustable seats and handlebars. Popular with home fitness enthusiasists as you can use them whilst watching TV.

Rowing machines help to tone major muscles in your arm, back, shoulder and abdomen. With most machines you can monitor your workout with the console which displays time, distance, calories and speed. Some include workout programmes for varied workouts and can be folded to half their size, saving on space.

Steppers simulate the climbing of steep stairs. As well as increasing heart rate, their use tones the lower body and strengthens leg and thigh muscles.

Weight and Strength Training

Weight and strength training create leaner, more toned muscles and help to shed body fat.

Multi gyms provide a wide variety of exercise options to strengthen and tone muscles and improve overall fitness levels from just one piece of equipment. Range in size and complexity of equipment.

Benches can be used in a variety of ways with one of the most popular being their use with bar bells/weights to strengthen and develop muscles of the upper body.

Boxing equipment such as punch bags have become very popular in recent years. Good for conditioning and toning the upper body and for relieving stress levels.

Dumbbells and Barbells are excellent for toning of the upper body and enhancing muscle definition.

Ankleweights help to strengthen and tone muscles of the legs including the thigh muscles.

Accessories

A whole host of fitness accessories are available. Some of the more popular accessories include:-

Ab and Crunch Trainers for targetting abdominal muscles.

Bullworkers for strengthening and developing chest and arm muscles.

Gym Balls target muscles of the abdomen, bottom, thighs and back. Popular for use in Pilates. Smaller balls are used to tone
muscles of the arms and upper back.

Hand Grips to develop grip, wrist and forearm strength.

Medicine Balls are heavy balls about the size of footballs used for strength training and often used for rehabilitation.

Skipping ropes are great for a cheap cardio-vascular workout. If budgets are tight then ropes can be your starting point.

Heart rate monitors are provided with most machines but can be purchased separately. They provide the best indicator of your
personal fitness level and enable you to customise your workout based on your heart-rate readings.

Pedometers enable you to record number of steps, distance and calories while exercising.

Mats for Yoga and other on-floor fitness and exercise programmes.

If you suffer from any of the following medical conditions:-

Heart and circulatory conditions, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, post viral syndrome, joint, muscular, or back problems
or are on any medication-

always consult your doctor before purchasing or using fitness equipment.

Coming soon - Directory of Fitness Equipment Suppliers & Personal Trainers