The VoicE Q3
Low -Impact,
High Intensity
Every gym owner knows that
ultra-intense workouts have
been popular over the past
several years, from boot camps
to HIIT. Members want to work
harder and faster to get the
most ROI. As time for exercise is
squeezed more, intensity has
increased.
While these challenging work-
outs can deliver desired results,
many also involve significant
impact on the body, with running,
jumping, leaping, hopping and
other power moves. Although high-impact work
is valuable for strengthening the muscles, bones,
and joints, it also can lead to injuries due to repeti-
tive stress.
Ultimately, exercisers should aim to balance
high-impact work with lower or no-impact
sessions to limit excessive stress on the body,
reduce risk of injury and keep the body strong
and better able to perform over a lifetime.
Of course, most gyms include low-impact or zero-
impact equipment in their cardio offering, but
they also should ensure that members know how
to take advantage of all the programs available.
Low-impact doesn’t automatically have to mean
low intensity; exercisers can still work hard, provided
they use these machines to their full potential.
For low-impact, high-intensity workouts, the
more options, the better, for valuable cross
training, including:
1. Elliptical machine – Standing, seated and
lateral models give members variety and dif-
ferent challenges while they work the entire
body for greater intensity.
2. Cross trainer – Alternate motion machines
incorporate various movements, such as
climbing, to tax muscles differently and
increase difficulty.
3. Stairclimber – Lifting the body weight over
and over is tough. Period.
4. Rower – This can be one of the hardest
seated workouts, where all muscles are
involved.
5. Air bike – This total-body machine delivers
infinite resistance, so they work as hard as the
exerciser drives the pedals and handlebars.
6. Upper-body ergometer (UBE) – Whether
standing or seated, the UBE definitely isn’t as
easy as it looks, and it’s a great way for exer-
cisers with limited lower-body functionality to
crank up the intensity.
Fitness staff should be familiar with how each
cardio machine works and be able to walk an
exerciser through the multiple programming
choices. Most premium equipment includes
interval training, interactive heart rate workouts
and HIIT so that exercisers can work more
vigorously. Members may not investigate all the
program options on their own and simply resort
to Manual for a steady-state session, which may
ultimately limit their interest and progress.
Having fitness staff actively demonstrate to
members the many workouts on their favorite
machines, or introduce them to new equipment,
can make a significant difference in terms of an
exerciser’s motivation, adherence and results!
An innovator of high-performance fitness equipment,
Octane Fitness, a Nautilus, Inc. brand, redefines
exercise with unprecedented breakthroughs, such
as the Max Trainer, LateralX, XT-One, xRide, Zero
Runner and AirdyneX. Innovative programming
with HIIT and progressive challenges drive
motivation and results.
Contact Harvey Elkins to learn more!
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