This time he’s using tubular resistance bands to show just how versatile the Soloflex Muscle Machine is! We’re really excited about this video because we will be carrying this type of band soon. And the bands can be used with our WBV platform as well.
1. Cross Fit
CrossFit workouts may not be for everyone but you’ll get serious results! The CrossFit philosophy of functional training (natural and compound ranges of motion) incorporates using your body weight, kettle bells, weighted balls, pull up bars, rings, ropes and barbells. CrossFit workouts are similar to Olympic and gymnastic training, the Boston CrossFit blog has some kick ass videos showing how to get the moves right. Check out the website, there is a new challenging workout posted daily.
2. Body Weight Workouts
Body Weight Workouts. You can get a hard body fast with NO equipment! A lot of people don’t have extra space in their homes for equipment or want a good workout on the road…. no biggie because you can get an awesome workout with nothing but your own body weight. If you can’t do push-up, start on your knees. Use a chair or bench under a pull up bar to get started if you can’t already do one, help your self up and slowly let yourself down, it’s the negative portion of the exercise that will grow your muscles and provide the strength gains you need to allow you to do a full pull up without assistance. This prison workout is another great free body workout.
3. High Intensity Interval Training
High Intensity Interval training (HIIT) is a specific kind of cardio training that incorporates short intense intervals. HIIT will give your metabolism a serious boost and burn fat for hours. A typical example time ratio is 2:1 meaning jog for 60 seconds and sprint for 30 seconds. A beginner may complete 6-8 cycles but as your fitness level improves you can increase the amount of cycles you do. I have recently cut my cardio workouts out down from 60 minutes to 30 minutes. Why? Because I know that if I push myself as hard as I can for half as long, I’ll get more out of my workout. And it’s actually made my workouts more enjoyable.
4. Plyometrics
Plyometric workouts seem to be a favorite for actors who need to pack on muscle fast. I would say that if this is the training program for people like Christian Bale and Brad Pitt … then it works!
Plyometric exercises were designed specifically to increase muscle strength and power. It’s an athlete’s workout that incorporates explosive movements in rapid sequence. Here’s several examples of plometic exercises for your lower body at light, moderate and high intensity. Examples for upper body.
5. Functional Training
Functional Training is often referred to when discussing workouts that include compound exercises, meaning exercises that use more than one muscle group. The term functional implies that it replicates our bodies natural range of motion. We highly recommend compound exercises because it’s a more efficient way to exercise and it burns more calories. A few examples would be: Squats with an overhead press, lunge with bicep curl or lateral raise, deadlift with a bent over row.
6. Training with Whole Body Vibration
Whole Body Vibration, it took me a while to get on board with this concept. I was a skeptic once too. I wish I hadn’t been such a doubter. I also love this machine now! I use it for my free body exercises and weighted exercises too, my favorites are push ups and lunges. It may seem unbelievable to you too but the studies proving it’s effectiveness just keep coming.
7. Power Yoga
Ashtanga or Power Yoga not only increases your strength, flexibility and endurance but it’s an amazing way to relieve the body and mind of stress like no other workout. Since I incorporated power yoga (ashtanga or vinyasa) to my weekly workouts I have seen huge improvements physically, but have been most impressed with a new sense of well being. It has the ability to take you to your edge physically while soothing and relaxing your mind at the same time. If you are a serious weightlifter or athlete, power yoga is a great compliment to your overall training.
8. Kettlebells
The kettlebell was introduced to me for the first time at a CrossFit gym. I had seen the videos and honestly, I was a bit intimidated. I didn’t think I was going to enjoy using them but I was wrong! The kettlebell is an awesome tool for functional and compound training. The way they’re weighted and the way the grip is positioned allows you to comfortably swing, press and pull the the weight around.
I have since bought a pair of kettlebells for my house, they’ve been great to use on my vibration platform. Unlike most weighted workouts, kettlebells allow you to move through large ranges of motion to really get the heart pumping.
If you start looking online for kettlebell instructional videos, you’ll find everything from the old school Russian routines to pregnancy workouts. You should have no trouble finding the right workout, what ever your fitness level.
9. Get Outside!
Walking may be the most basic exercise of all but it doesn’t have to be the easiest. Hiking involves truckin’ up a steep hills and moving around and over rocks and stumps. It’s a perfect way to really work up a sweat. Why not get some fresh air and beautiful scenery if you can. If a beautiful hike outdoors isn’t realistic, take a brisk walk to the park or around your neighborhood. Be creative, boost your walks by finding hills, walking faster, or go that 15 extra minutes. It’s also a workout that can be done with friends. Try to walk with someone who you know is in better shape, they’ll help you keep a faster pace.
I started out wanting to write a blog post about great workouts and got totally distracted by these workout video gems…….enjoy!
This is Greer Childers doing a very odd face workout. She was another 80’s wonder. Just wow.
Jazzercise was hot in 1982. This is Judi Sheppard and friends putting the last nail in the coffin for this 80s workout trend…..”Boogie to the Music.”
The Poodle workout…those dog heads are real! This video was made by Nagi Noda for the 2004 Athens Olympics. It’s really weird and sort of scary. And by “sort of” I mean someone put this person in an institution.
Bas Rutten…..OMG, this guy is crazy! If you follow his advise, you’re sure to end up in prison. Seriously though, this guy does have legit workouts and has quite the following. He’s into martial arts, kickboxing and a undefeated UFC heavyweight champion. I even heard that he Whupped Batman’s Ass.
Alex Astilean previews the world’s first manually operated, outdoor treadmill. Doesn’t this kind of defeat the purpose of running outside?
Chair Dancing Around the World with Jodi Stolove. The paper plates….great resistance for the upper body.
Take the “work out of your workout” with Hawaii Chair. Yeah right….like it’s possible to type and pick up the phone while using this thing. This seems like the kind of chair that would lead to an HR problem…
We’d appreciate your Digg! :)
Working out at home is definitely the way to go. It’s private. You can do it when you want. You can dress any way you want. I work out in my gown.
The exercises I do: squats, curls, deadlifts, overhead presses and bent over rows. My equipment: Soloflex dumbbells, Soloflex Rockit and Soloflex Whole Body Vibration (WBV) Platform and a Soloflex WBV Attachment on my Rockit.
Every other day I do squats on my Rockit. On the other days I do my upper-body exercises while standing on my WBV platform.
The good vibrations have upgraded my workout. Vibrating while weight training produces better gains than weight training alone.
I am convinced that weight lifting is the essential exercise. Nothing works as well at shaping your body and raising you metabolism (burning calories at rest).
My tips:
This doesn’t have to take a lot of your time, about 15 minutes a day.
If you exercise at home I’d really like to see what equipment you use and how you use it.
Soloflex revolutioned the home fitness industry with the introduction of the Soloflex Muscle Machine in 1978.
Read more about Soloflex’s values, history, and plans for the future.
© 2009 Soloflex, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Shipping Policy | Return and Warranty Information.
Recent Comments