Thursday, 17 August 2017

Benefits of Using a Cardio Rowing Machine

Different types of exercises appeal to different people. If you don’t like the strain of high-impact exercises such as running or weight-lifting, don’t worry—there is an exercise that is low-impact but highly effective, and that is rowing. Just how effective is it? Well, rowing burns twice the amount of calories lost in spinning. That’s righty—you can burn up to 800 calories in an hour of rowing. And no, you don’t have to do it in the water because you can row at home with the use of a rowing machine. The latest rowing machines mimic the resistance of real-life water, plus it they are adjustable to suit the level of of the user, from beginner to moderate.

Rowing exercises almost all major muscle groups. It also works out the cardiovascular, circulatory, respiratory and immune system.  This is because the resistance from a cardio rowing machine comes from both directions, just like rowing in water does. Best of all, almost anyone can safely use a rowing machine since it is easy on the joints such as the knees, ankles, elbows, and hips. Rowing also increases endurance and lowers the risk of injury by increasing strength in all the major muscles. While it seems like mostly an upper body workout, rowing actually targets the lower body (the legs and the core) just as much as it targets the arms and shoulders.

If you are exercising to burn fat, then there is no better work out than rowing. It burns more calories than most workouts, and with a rowing machine, you do not even have to leave your house. As long as you have the proper form and make use of the machine safely and correctly, then you can burn serious calories in the comfort and privacy of your home. 

Cardio Equipment and Their Major Applications

Cardio workouts are not only designed to improve muscular and aerobic endurance. Many of these exercise routines are also useful for those trying to bulk up, shed calories, cut fat, and make abs more pronounced. Below are tried and true cardio machines that help burn calories and boost overall performance in the gym:

• Arc Trainers – The arc trainer is a resisted, non-impact cardio device that delivers multiple incline levels (21 in a standard machine) and features wireless heart rate monitoring. More advanced models even have built-in power work-outs, cardio exercises, and weight loss routines. Whether you like gliding at low-incline levels, striding mid-rage, or power climbing, arc trainers help burn major calories and improve athleticism.

• Indoor Rowers – An indoor rower is a good machine for elevating heart rate, burning fat, and building muscle. Indoor rowers are also preferred by home gym enthusiasts because of their compact configuration. This machine is designed to help strengthen glutes, work hamstrings, and other important muscle groups like your quadriceps and calves, all while shedding unwanted pounds.

• Jacob’s Ladder – Another quintessential cardio machine, Jacob’s ladder places users at a 40-degree angle. This reduces lower back stress while climbing. The optimal position also enables full range of motion as you increase rung speed. Variable speeds give you full control of the intensity of the workout. Jacob’s ladder is a good machine for burning calories and increasing heartrate. 

• Stationary bike/spinner – Stationary bikes and spinners have magnetic/hydraulic resistant systems to simulate real biking experience most models come with backlit computer screens that show useful metrics like rpms and watts, which help track fitness. Some more advanced machines even allow variable handlebar positions and seat adjustment so you can tailor workout position to your liking and create different difficulties for maximum cardio and muscle toning effects. Spinners are among the greatest cardio equipment you will find in any gym center or home gym.


Buying Rowing Machine for Sale Price in South Africa

Stationary rowing machines, otherwise known as ergometer or “erg” for short, are excellent pieces of home gym equipment you should consider investing on. They are among the most sought after and recommended home gym machines by both trainers and equipment distributors who know exactly what gym-goers need to help their workout routines.  Rowing machines are best for strengthening cardiovascular capacity and endurance, building muscle tone, and increasing stamina. If these are exactly what your exercise plan needs, read on to know the right type of rowing machine to buy:

Rowing machines are all about resistance, which is exactly why understanding the different resistance type these machines have is essential to finding the right equipment for your workout. Indoor rowing machines have four basic resistance types, namely, air, water, hydraulic piston, and magnetic and below are brief descriptions of each:

•Air resistance rowing machine–This type of rowing machine features fan blades that create resistance as the user increases rowing intensity. This means that the more intensity you give, the more resistance the machine creates.

• Water resistance rowing machine–For a more realistic rowing motion, choose water resistance machine, which produces sounds and sensations that replicate how rowing on actual water is like. The machine consists of oar blades that wade through the water, which then creates resistance. Similar to the first type, resistance in a water rowing machine increases as the rower’s intensity increases. 

• Hydraulic piston rowing machine–This type of rowing machine uses hydraulic pistons, which can easily be adjusted according to the user’s strength. It is the cheapest in price out of the four resistance types and is a good choice for those who want a quiet machine.

• Magnetic rowing machine–Magnetic rowing machines also allow adjustable resistance through its magnetic breaking system. This is preferred because of its low-maintenance nature and durability.


Thursday, 13 July 2017

Know the Tips to Prevent Shoulder Injuries while Bench Pressing

It’s kind of easy to get home gym equipment for bench pressing, but it can be tricky to do the actual exercise. You are probably reading this because you have experienced shoulder injuries or discomfort while bench pressing. Don’t worry, because by following these tips, you’ll get to spare your shoulders and even improve your bench press.

1. Protect your shoulders by enhancing your legs.

The bench press is an exercise not just for the upper part, but for the body as a whole. Your shoulders will have to endure less strain if you let your lower body do more work. When you set up, it’s best to spread your feet wide, and then drive them down into the floor. Push your feet as you start each rep. You’ll see that it’ll help you lift the bar off your chest.

2. ‘Hug’ the Bench.

Do this by pulling your shoulder blades together and then pulling them down. This should seem as if you are using your shoulders to ‘hug’ the bench. You should keep your shoulders in this form throughout the workout so that you’ll have a powerful platform to press from. 



3. Keep you grip at shoulder width.

The wider your grip is, the more vulnerable your shoulders’ position will be. Narrow your grip as you remove the bar, and do not lose that position. 

4. Pull before you push.

You will really get hurt if you allow the bar to drop to your chest and bounce off your sternum. To prevent that from happening, it’s best to flex your upper-back muscles and pull the bar to your chest. After that, drive your upper back into the bench to push yourself away from the bar. 

5. Get some rest.

This is perhaps the most important tip here. If you do not give your body enough rest, it won’t recover, grow, and become stronger. Give your body time to relax, because that’s when results are created. 

Ready to bench press? Go ahead and purchase your home gym equipment now.


Know from Where to Buy Gymnastic Equipment for Home

Gymnastics equipment is not just for gymnasts. Other athletes and fitness enthusiasts can also use them, since these pieces of equipment are great for working out different muscle groups. If you are interested in buying gymnastic equipment for your home, one of the most important things to consider is the supplier. Purchasing from online suppliers is a great option because most of them usually offer discounts. However, you must make sure that the supplier is reputable.



Significant experience in the industry is an important consideration here. Suppliers that do not have enough experience yet may not be able to give you accurate advice in some instances. The supplier won’t know the issues that the equipment may have, and will not be able to resolve problems if they do arise. It’s also best to get your gymnastics equipment from a suppler that has multiple branches. Your supplier must have an effective support structure and must carry a wide range of spares. The best suppliers have their own maintenance staff and adequate man power to assist you when you encounter any problem with your purchase.

Also make sure that the supplier does not make you overpay for your gymnastics equipment. Try to check if the supplier offers a warranty for their items, and whether the supplier is a reseller or an importer. Between a reseller and an importer, it is always better to buy directly from an importer. Resellers may not be able to offer you a backup service. Once they’ve sold you the equipment, they can simply disappear. 

When looking for a gym equipment supplier in Africa, it is ideal to go for a renowned one that already has established ethics. The most reputable suppliers have dedicated sales consultants who can give you accurate advice. You can also expect them to have a large showroom and a national footprint.  

Monday, 19 June 2017

Exercise and Physical Activity: Are They Different?


They may seem to be one and the same thing, but there is a clear distinction between exercise and physical activity.

By definition, physical activity involves movement carried out by our muscles that require energy, which means that any movement we do is actually is in fact a physical activity. Research tells us that all normal physical activity contributes to physical health and well being.

Exercise on the other hand, is a focused, planned, structured, repetitive and intentional movement with the goal of maintaining health or improving physical fitness. It is a subcategory or a kind of physical activity. With exercise, you focus on cardiopulmonary fitness for your heart and lungs, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition (body muscle mass and fat).

Gym equipment suppliers are aware of these, and that is why they design equipment to cater to each specific facet of physical fitness. That is the reason why there are machines that focus on strength training, like dumbbells, bench presses, free weights, and lifting machines, as well as machines like treadmills and stationary bikes to help with cardio and endurance.

Physical activity is important. Studies have shown that increased physical activity has positive benefits and even reduces the risk of developing certain cancers. Focused activity and exercise also improves overall fitness, endurance and well being. Exercise machines from gym equipment suppliers have been specifically designed to maximize your movements for the positive benefits. And since exercise is a focused activity, you get more health benefits in a safe and efficient manner. A reputable equipment supplier with extensive experience and expertise can provide the best equipment and supply assistance and advice and help in designing a suitable gym environment. With the right set of tools and planning, help build up a fitness facility with the best equipment possible or even just put together a small home gym that would suit your needs and budget.


Dumbbells are a Boon to Fitness Freaks


Free weights are great for fitness buffs. From gym rats to home based exercise junkies, dumbbells give a multitude of exercise routine options. Home exercise equipment manufacturers have taken up the challenge of providing advanced exercise equipment to improve and optimize the way we keep fit. New designs for free weights and dumbbells have made it accessible even to home based gyms and not just for big health and fitness facilities.

Old dumbbell designs use to be simplistic, using individual weights. This meant that you had to keep and maintain a lot of gear, which also takes up a lot of space and looking after. Advances in modern design now gives us compact modular equipment like adjustable dumbbells. They work by allowing the weight to be adjusted in 5 pound increments. The rest of the weight is left on a cradle while the needed weight is lifted free. This gives an already versatile tool even more flexibility.

Dumbbells could be used for a number of exercise routines. Alternate arm curls help build up biceps. Kickback lifts are good for your triceps. Crunches assisted with dumbbells help tone and firm up abdominal muscles. Dumbbell dead lifts are used to work your back muscles. You can even use rowing exercises with dumbbells for your shoulders.

Use dumbbells with leg exercises. Squats and forward lunges are great for working your upper and lower thigh muscles. Side lunges will work and tone the inner thighs, so do not miss a few repetitions of those. Toe raises target your calf muscles.

As clearly illustrated, dumbbells provide a lot of uses for different exercises. making them one of the most versatile home exercise equipment available in the market. Its simplicity of use and compact size makes it a great exercise tool. Pick up a good pair today and level up your exercise routine.