| Innovations | FIT Extra Circuit Training
Strong on Wellness
CIRCuIT TRAINING
KEISER
Selectorized and circuit training equipment are valuable
partners in maintaining members’ health
Think of selectorized and circuit training equipment as the
strong, silent—and very accommodating—type. As wellness
and rehabilitation become inextricably linked with fitness,
strength training is increasingly being recommended to
help fight a number of diseases and to maintain overall
Keiser XPress Training System
health. Manufacturers have recognized this link and, as a
Designed to maximize workout
results in a minimal amount of time,
result, have quietly developed machines that move more
this research-based training system
naturally with the body and fit a wider range of users.
combines cardiovascular conditioning,
strength training, and stretching. The
“It’s nice to see that the medical community is finally realizing and
circuit incorporates Keiser bikes, the
vocalizing the importance of strength training. It now plays a key role
Keiser Stretch Zone, and a minimum
in fighting obesity, preventing diabetes, cancer, and osteoporosis,
of six of the company’s air-powered
reducing high blood pressure, and just improving the way you look and
resistance machines. The first half
of the 30-minute training system is
feel,” notes Randy Webber, founder and chief designer for Hoist
dedicated to cardiovascular training on
Fitness, in San Diego. “To meet those needs on the equipment side,
the bikes, while the second half entails
we’ve seen an increase in multi-dimensional/multi-plane exercise
strength training, with “active-rest”
movements, such as user-defined exercise arms that allow the exer-
stretches performed in between sets.
ciser to determine the movement path of their hands during pressing
or pulling exercises, and cable motion machines and machines utilizing
LIFE FITNESS
articulating pivots, both of which allow the user to choose the arc and
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angle that their hands will travel in. We’ve also been diversifying our
product line-up to benefit a greater age range of participants, with
lighter weight stacks, smaller incremental jumps, and the promotion
of increased reps at lower weight.”
B. Daryl Shute, education coordinator at Knoxville, Tennessee-
based Power Systems, Inc., has also noted this move toward functional,
more natural movement. “With innovations, such as cables and
pulleys attached to moveable arms on the machines, we can now
perform ‘functional’ exercises from standing, sitting, or even lying
down positions. These weight-bearing exercises allow the body to
Circuit Series
move in the way it was designed. Almost every manufacturer now
offers a series of non-traditional equipment to meet those needs.”
Life Fitness’ 11-piece line of space-efficient
To that end, adds Doug Durnford, product manager at Precor, in
machines delivers time-efficient, total-body
Woodinville, Washington, strength equipment manufacturers are now
workouts in an approachable, easy-to-use
more focused on ease of access and user adjustments. “Selectorized/
format. The units boast a user-friendly
design and superior biomechanics. The
circuit training strength equipment is a very mature market,” he says.
patented Lifeband Resistance System
“Current trends, like pinless weight stacks, continue to address ease-
mimics gravity for maximum strength-
of-use and small refinements to biomechanical implementation. It’s
training results, and eliminates acceleration
about making strength training equipment more approachable and
at the top and bottom of the exercise for
usable to a larger percentage of the population, including those with an express-style workout with the feel
disabilities.” of traditional machines. A low-profile,
To see the latest innovations in this category, browse through the
easy-access design, no required machine
following pages of F.I.T. Extra! —|
adjustments, and an innovative resistance-
selection system minimize user intimidation.
– Jon Feld, jon@trendline-co.com.
www.ihrsa.org | OCTOBER 2009 | Club Business International
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