Nancy Arnold discusses how she decided to equip her personal fitness studio.
In this podcast (Quicktime ipod compatible, 42MB; Google streaming flash video), Bud Gibson and I (Nancy) discuss how I have equipped NCA Fitness, my personal fitness studio.
In designing my studio I thought about my training philosophy and how that translates into an effective workout. In addition to traditional strength training I truly believe that functional training should be included into every workout. Functional training can improve neuromuscular coordination and efficiency. Working multiple muscle groups simultaneously makes the body a more efficient machine.
The first piece of equipment that Bud and I discuss is the Tower made by Free Motion. This piece is specifically made for full body functional training. The cable column adjusts from top to bottom or anywhere in between. There are four different attachments that provide the ability to work many different positions and muscle groups together or individually. The weight stack increases in increments of 2.5 pounds and goes up to 50 pounds.
The dumbbells can be used for traditional strength training moves such as a chest press, shoulder press or a bicep curl. For some clients dumbbells may be more beneficial than machines because they don't lock the user into a specific joint angle. This may be an advantage for some due to injury or other joint issue that should be addressed.
The cardiovascular equipment in my studio includes an Airdyne bike, treadmill and an elliptical machine. One piece is not necessarily better than the other. It's more a matter of what you enjoy. The elliptical machine is non-impact and therefore may be a better choice for those with ankle, knee, hip or low back issues.
I also have a traditional cable cross machine. Another resistance piece that can work muscles in a variety of ways. Different attachments (or handles) allows me to change the angle of the muscle group therefore making the workout more complete. In addition to the equipment mentioned above I also have various balance tools (like the BOSU and dyna discs) and resistance tubing, steps and foam rollers. These are all designed to make the workout more complete and effective based on each individuals needs.
Additional Links
- An interesting view on functional training.
- More information on the Free Motion equipment.
