Smart & Wired: Well-Oiled Machines
07/01/2007
Brandon Jenner starts every morning with some weight training. In the afternoon, he does cardio—usually walking on his treadmill. "I put the treadmill on a high incline," he explains. "Being able to hit the gym twice a day is one of the best things about having a home gym. That, and the fact that gyms can get crowded, messy and dirty. I don’t have to worry about that. It feels good to have your own place that’s private and where everything is clean."Jenner is among a growing number of people creating home gyms. In fact, a recent survey commissioned by Nautilus shows that 35 percent of all Americans have a dedicated space in their homes for fitness. A third of Americans will buy fitness equipment this year, including weights, treadmills and exercise bikes. The good news is, there is plenty to choose from, especially when it comes to professional-grade machines.
In the past six months there has been an explosion of products based on the latest technology and design as well as products that put a fresh twist on those that have been around for a while. Precor’s S3.23 Functional Strength Trainer is one such machine.
Unlike fixed-path machines, which move in one direction—think bicep-curl or squat-press machines—functional strength training equipment lets you define how you’re pulling or pressing, thus creating sports-specific exercises. In the past, this type of equipment was bulky. The Precor S3.23, however, can fit in a corner, requiring a space measuring just a few square feet. Its small footprint—even with its pulley-and-cable format—belies its potential use. The S3.23 lets users do an unlimited number of different exercises, including the 30 shown on an instructional DVD that comes with the unit, says Jim Zahniser, a Precor spokesperson.
"You can use this machine to improve the way you do things in your everyday life," he says. "For most people, it helps strengthen muscles they use every day, reduce injuries and improve overall muscle strength."
Renny Harris is one of the people benefitting from the influx of completely new technology. Harris, who purchased a Power Plate pro5 AIR from Advantage Fitness Products, already had a rowing machine, stair-stepper and treadmill, but was looking for a way to shake up her routine. She found it with the Power Plate, she says.
The $10,500 Power Plate pro5 AIR uses vibration technology to increase muscle strength and improve circulation. Users can simply stand on the machine with their knees bent in a classic "squat" position in order to reap its benefits. They can also perform common dynamic exercises, and these effects are enhanced when performed on the machine’s central vibrating platform. The vibrations make muscles contract in order to stabilize the body—something that Harris says has yielded "amazing results." She trains under Andy Clay and Rick Hagaman, American College of Sports Medicine–certified personal trainers and owners of Blue Clay Fitness (The Robb Report Collection, December 2006), an L.A.-based company that works exclusively with Advantage Fitness Products, recommending the equipment to their long roster of affluent clients.Since Harris already had cardio equipment, she didn’t need to buy anything to augment her Power Plate workout, but Clay says he’s suggesting another new piece of machinery for clients who do: the Precor EFX576i elliptical machine.
The EFX576i, Precor’s top-of-the-line commercial model, is the
only total-body elliptical machine with an adjustable ramp; users can modify
both the resistance and the ramp angle, which ranges from 13 to 40 degrees. For
the Total Body option, users can incorporate movable arm levers to increase
cardio and engage upper-body muscles. This combination of features lets you work
different parts of your body—including your quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings and
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The sleek Power Plate pro5 AIR uses vibration technology to tone
muscles. (Click image to enlarge)
Both the Power Plate and the EFX576i are perfect for the home
gym, but for business travelers who find themselves in hotels more often
than they are home, the portable Travel Trainer (which Clay calls "the perfect
exercise companion for the business traveler who wants to stay in shape") is
a worthwhile addition to your luggage. Sold through Blue Clay, it includes an
inflatable fitness ball and pump, two training bands and an interactive fitness
CD—all of which fit in a lightweight bag designed to conform with today’s
carry-on limitations.
Once you’ve chosen your equipment, you can make sure it, along with any other equipment and furniture, fits in your home or office using another Precor offering: a space planner on the company’s website that lets you design your exercise room using drag-and-drop functionality. You can create a room that looks exactly like your space, and place your exercise equipment in to see if it gels.
Because ultimately, unless your equipment fits both your lifestyle and surroundings, you’re not going to use them, says Bryan Green, president and CEO of Advantage Fitness Products, which distributes the Precor and Power Plate machines, and designs, supplies and cares for all-inclusive "wellness environments" throughout the world. (Among their list of clients is the Los Angeles Lakers, the San Francisco 49ers, the Troon Country Club and the Four Seasons hotels.)
"You really want to choose equipment that can be used by everyone in the home—male or female, and all different age ranges," says Green. "In an ideal world you’ll have equipment that answers all your fitness needs, so you see results and stick with your program." Adds Clay: "No matter what you choose, you’re going to get the best results out of equipment that provides variety; something that keeps your workouts exciting."
Advantage Fitness Products, 888.895.0547, www.afproducts.com
Blue Clay Fitness, 866.587.2583,
www.blueclayfitness.com