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You've been thinking of working out but the thought of regular
visits to a health club, spa, or gym doesn't quite appeal? Well,
you can actually save the drive time and get a fairly good
workout on a home gym. In this article, we'll discuss the
different types of machines available, how they work, and some
considerations to make when purchasing your own home gym.
There are three main types of home gym equipment: traditional,
power rod, and gravity resistance (Of course, there are also
free weight bench sets, but these aren't necessarily for
everyone and, depending on whether or not you have small
children or pets in your home, may present potential hazards).
Traditional gym machines are generally what you would find in
your local gym. These machines tend to be big and heavy, and can
take up a lot of space. They involve pulley assemblies attached
to weight stacks and the amount of weight a person can work with
can usually range up to 300 lbs. Of course, the precise amount
of weight to be used for a particular exercise may be determined
by the use of a simple pin-slot system. Two companies that come
to mind when shopping for these traditional systems are Body
Craft and Smith Machines. How much do they cost? Well, they can
be quite pricey, starting out in the 800 to 900 dollar range
going all the way up to and exceeding 2000 dollars based on
chosen options and features.
Traditional home gyms have been around for decades. However, a
second type of home gym setup, the Power rod system, seems to be
the wave of the future. These machines use rods with different
resistance rates selectable with a hook and bungee system. A
popular and well-known example of one of these machines is Bow
Flex. Power rod systems have the advantage of being both smaller
and lighter than traditional home gyms. They have a sleeker look
and are absent a heavy weight stack---definitely a consideration
if you have small children in the home. Power rod machines also
feature a full range of exercises, including rowing on some
models. The resistance rods are usually standard at 210lbs as
the max. However, these are upgradeable to a maximum of 410lbs!
What's the cost? Machines like the Bowflex range from 900 to
2200 dollars.
Finally, another type of home gym that is growing in popularity
is the gravity resistance gym. Gravity resistance systems are
very compact and "easily stowed", using only minimal space when
assembled. They use a system of pulleys and your own body weight
to achieve a quality work out. Different settings allow your
body weight to utilize greater or lesser amounts of resistance
making them easy to use for both the beginner and the advanced
user. A well-known machine of this type is the "The body rail".
Gravity resistance systems come in several different sizes and
may be configured to fit neatly under a bed or in the corner of
a room. Size is certainly an advantage, but here are two other
advantages: a user can engage in a wide range of exercises and
the machines are reasonably priced at 300 to 600 dollars.
Which home gym set up should you buy? As with most purchases,
your decision should ultimately be based on the balancing of
several concerns; namely, your needs, preferences, and available
finances. However, rest assured, if working out and getting into
shape at home is what you desire, there are certainly more than
enough choices to choose from.
About the author:
The author of this article is Tim Moore, who publishes a website
on Vitamins, herbs, and
nutrition which features a section on Antioxidants
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