Archive for April, 2010
Midland woman suing Nordictrack maker after foot is impaled on elliptical crosstrainer
A Midland woman has filed a federal civil suit claiming a Utah-based was negligent in manufacturing the exercise equipment that impaled her foot, causing permanent damage. Summer Taulbee was injured Nov. 13 when a weld failed, causing a rocker arm…
Read more on The Saginaw News
Exercise has become an integral part of everyday life of most people. An individual spends at least some part of his life in exercise. Exercise can be done with equipment or without equipment. Training equipments helps in exercising a specific part or group of muscles or organs of the body. Today a wide range of gym equipment are available in the market.
The most common equipments for training are multigyms, treadmills, swiss balls, dumb bells, bar bells, rowing machines, exercise bicycles, balance boards, abdomen exercisers resistance bands and punching bags. There are various facilities, equipment associated with gym equipment like heart rate monitors, sauna baths, swimming pools etc.
A multigym consists of incremented weight plates that move up and down on steel guides. It usually consists of attachments for exercise of chest, arms, thighs, calves, shoulders and pectorals (sometimes called wings or pecs).
Treadmill is an equipment used for running without moving any distance. It consists of a conveyor belt which slides on rollers on which the individual can run or walk.
Swiss ball or yoga ball is a rubber ball of 50 to 85 cm which is used to develop balance and exercise the abdominal and back muscles.
Dumbbells and bar bells are the traditional gym equipment. They consist of variable or fixed free weights attached to a small or long bar. They are lifted against gravity to tone muscles like biceps, triceps, forearm muscles, chest and shoulder muscles etc. They usually come in pairs.
Rowing machines are gym equipment designed to stimulate rowing in water. They are used to exercise pecs and back muscles.
Exercise bicycles are stationery bicycles with resistance discs for wheels. They are used to exercise thigh and calf muscles.
Balance board consists of a board fixed on a bearing. It is used to develop balance.
Abdomen exerciser consists of an inclined board with leg rollers for doing sit ups. It is used to exercise the stomach and abdomen muscles.
All the above equipment except free weights have attached electronics to monitor number of cycles and other parameters. Resistance bands are elastic bands and in these the resistance of the band to stretching is used to exercise muscles like quadriceps and deltoids.
Punching bag consists of sand filled cushioned bags or other rugged material bags for practice by boxers. They are either hung from the ceiling or fixed on a stand.
Most professional gyms have the above mentioned equipment along with other facilities like swimming pools, sauna baths, steam baths etc.
For a home gym, a multigym with a few dumbbells and barbells are sufficient for workout of the entire body. The starting price of a multigym is around 1500$. The cost of other equipment varies according to the make.
Obesity has been declared a national epidemic and cardiovascular disease is maintaining its spot as America’s number one killer, so the case for living a healthy lifestyle has already been built. Why then do so many of us shy away from turning to a professional for help with our workout regime? In many cases, the answer is quite simple. We assume that personalized fitness programs are an expensive treat reserved only for the rich and svelte Hollywood crew. And while this may have been true in the past, personal trainers are now helping ordinary women make celebrity-sized life changes. Certified Personal Trainers (CPTs) are an affordable option for those without the benefit of an expensive entourage of top-notch health gurus, personal chefs, and daring designers. Convinced that the secrets to becoming a “red-carpet diva” should be available to the masses even when dirty laundry, crying babies, and tight budgets run rampant, many of today’s hottest CPTs can help you reach your fitness goals by developing and implementing realistic and actionable fitness plans. What Is Personal Training?You’ve all heard of CPTs, but do you really know exactly what they do? While styles and programs vary widely, you can typically expect the following: 1. Fitness assessment Comprised of various tests designed to assess cardiovascular fitness, body-fat percentage, flexibility and muscular strength and endurance. 2. Individualized fitness program A personalized exercise program based on your individual assessment results and personal fitness and health goals. 3. Supervised workouts Personal attention during exercise is the primary function of personal trainers. During these workouts, you will be educated about the fundamentals of strength and aerobic training, as well as the proper and safe use of various types of equipment. Finding a Certified Personal TrainerYou’ve made the decision to hire a personal trainer, but now what? Working with a trainer is a very personal experience, and much like a hair stylist or gynecologist, what works for your friend or co-worker might not work for you. Your CPT is charged with motivating you to reach new heights and will often see you during your most vulnerable times – grunting, sweating and possibly looking a “hot mess. ” Given this, make sure your trainer is someone that you respect, trust and feel that you can get along well with. Personal training is not a regulated profession, so it’s up to you to gain assurance that you’re working with a trainer who has the knowledge to provide you with a safe and effective workout. Do your homework, and stick with one who has been certified by a reputable organization (Choose “Find an Ace Professional” on www. acefitness. org or the “Personal Trainer Locator” on www. ideafit. com for starters). Be sure to ask for references, and verify that the trainer has liability insurance and provides business policies in writing. How Much Will This Cost?Rates vary, depending on the trainer’s experience and the length and location of the workout session. Most personal trainers typically charge $50 to $80 per hour for their services, and many provide a discount if you pre-purchase a package of sessions. If this price is a bit steep for your budget, consider sharing a trainer with 1 or 2 of your girls because this will drop the per-person rate substantially. While you may not be up for an Academy Award any time soon, you could easily be taking home a lot more than a little gold statue. By working with a Certified Personal Trainer, you can get a whole new lease on a fabulous life.
Aerobics is one of the many options that you can use to get in shape.
Unlike other methods of dieting and exercise in general, aerobics requires an amount of dedication that many people are simply too afraid to provide.
There are many methods that you can do to prepare yourself for aerobics and to get yourself in that happy mood when it comes to this subject of exercise.
Before you begin your Aerobics session, you will want to find some music that you enjoy. Aerobics generally provides the best results when music is played in the background. Your best bet is to find a style of music that will get you in that “active mood”. Some genres of music to consider for aerobic activity include Pop, Hip Hop, and Rock. If you attend a aerobics class, you may not have a choice in music.
You will have to take this into consideration as you get into the Aerobics mood. There are lots of different types of portable music devices, in a wide range of cost, that will put you in the aerobic mindset with the help of ear bud headphones.
It is also important to get an ample amount of rest before you start your aerobics session. You want your body to be energized and ready to go by the time the session starts. If you become tired early into the workout, your mood will obviously decrease (as tiredness often does to our mood) and your body will encourage you to stop the workout.
Any beverages that contain a high amount of sugar and caffeine should be avoided prior to participating in aerobic activity. These types of beverages are not good for you, and they also deprive your body of what it needs during exercise. It is best to drink a nice glass of refreshing water before starting your aerobics session in (or anywhere else for a matter of fact).
Being adequately hydrated is yet another way on how you can improve your mood for aerobics activity. Getting in the mood for aerobics is aided by a short stretching session prior to starting.
If you skipped a warm up session, and happened to injure yourself doing Aerobics, you might develop a negative attitude toward Aerobics. In order for your body to be prepared for aerobic activity, it is imperative that you allow your body to stretch out. To maintain a good mood in anticipation for your workout, you should participate in a light stretching session.
An intense stretching session may take energy away that would be better used during your aerobics session. This next tip to help yourself into the aerobics mood may be obvious but many people fail to realize it.
You should only participate in a level of aerobics that you are comfortable in. There is nothing worse for your mood than trying to compete in an advanced aerobics class (or in advanced aerobics activity if you are doing solo exercise) when you need to be doing aerobics at an entry level. Knowing the level of aerobics that you can do without damaging your aerobics mood is key for a good session. Finally, comfortable clothing will be your final push into that Aerobics mood. While participating in aerobics, you should wear comfortable clothing that allows you to easily move. The clothing should be well ventilated as a sweaty person, as you know, is not a person who is in a good mood.
Image taken on 2007-09-21 09:35:53 by notorious d.a.v..
Falcon foundation starts CASD Hall of Fame
The Connellsville Area Falcon Foundation, an independent nonprofit group that has raised thousands of dollars for equipment, books and incentives for the Connellsville Area School District now wants to recognize individuals for extraordinary accomplishments.
Read more on Daily Courier
She is the hottest, toughest, most successful personal trainer on TV, and she is a great client. Nobody works as hard, ask as few questions, and complains as little as Jillian, she just works her butt off and TRAINS HARD! In this video, she thanks me for helping her get skinny whenever she come to New York City.
If you want to feel stronger, get more flexible, achieve better balance and body harmony, and just be able to perform physical activities much better than you do at present, it’s time to get into strength training. Strength training exercises activates your muscles to work further than it is used to, which, in effect, is how it becomes stronger.
There are three basic kinds of strength training exercises: abdominal, upper body and lower body exercises. Abdominal exercises strengthen your center, which is supposed to give you optimum control over the rest of your body and keep all your power in check. Exercises for the upper body involve the back, torso and arms, while legs, thighs and hips are developed by lower body exercises.
Nearly all of the exercises will be lifting weights, they will be your weight resistance. This said, you must be aware of risk factors involved when starting out on your strength training program. For example, if you have any diseases or problems with your heart, or even if there is any history of coronary disease in your family, you must get your doctor’s permission before you can start a strength training program that involves weight lifting. If you suffer from obesity, chronic hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, asthma always consult your doctor.
You should also talk to your doctor about being ready for strength training when you are recovering from surgery, have had no physical exercise whatsoever prior to your upcoming strength training plans, are pregnant or had given birth less than three months ago. Obviously, after events such as these, you would probably want your body to be much stronger, but jumping into strength training exercises after such a weakened condition would do much more harm than good. Let’s get going, but slowly.
It is important to have a strength training program that involves the majority of the muscles in your body. Don’t just focus on one part of your body e. g. if you wanted to get a nice six pack. Do this and the rest of your body will suffer. A primary program you can start with would involve the bench press, lateral pulldowns, overhead press, bicep curl and tricep pulldown for upper body; squats, leg extensions and leg curls; and abdominal crunches for your midsection. You can add exercises later on.
There are even programs with combination exercises for people on the go. Such exercises include squats with bicep curls, or with overhead press, lunges with lateral raises, and so on. But these are for later, when you’ve already achieved some strength and experience in strength training.
Your strength training exercise program should be very basic when you start out. Eight to twelve reps per muscle group is the recommended minimum to help you get your desired results. This recommendation comes from The American College of Sports Medicine. As you progress with your exercises, the amount of resistance that is applied to your exercises must increase as well, but again, don’t rush into it. The only way to go is up. You’ll be stronger before you know it.
Personal training center gets nod
The Marple Zoning Board voted unanimously last week to grant a variance to CrossFit Delaware Valley to open a personal training center at 525 Parkway Boulevard, Suite 2. The property, zoned I-Light Industrial, is the former home of Liberty Cheer.
Read more on Marple Newtown County Press
Image taken on 2008-07-07 17:24:12 by speric.