SIGN UP FOR YOUR FREE DAY PASS TODAY!
Personal trainers are at times a strange breed; We’re not talking about their love of protein and choice of shorts on leg day, it’s more about the way they do things, and precisely why.
Whether you are in a ladies only gym or have watched over a body pump class and wondered what all the fuss is about, it's time you knew some trainer preferences.
When seeing others train in the gym, or ladies only gym, you’ll often see a very traditional blend of tried and tested resistance exercises combined with some standard cardiovascular activity.
It’s all good, this stuff works, but it’s up to personal trainers in Dubai to show us the latest in innovative training styles, equipment and pretty much anything that might help us achieve a heightened level of fitness/ appearance we were simply unable to access before.
Here are just a few of the items you may have scratched your head over whilst seeing trainers with their clients and wondered “what on earth is that?”
Reebok Vipr
This is probably the most underused and misunderstood piece of equipment out there at the moment.
If you’re lucky enough to see someone using one of these, chances are you’ll see them using it like a bodypump barbell or log albeit with a neutral grip!
These items are actually designed to allow you to add resistance to necessary every day movements, thus allowing you to develop a deeper level of functional fitness in the direct areas you’ll utilise in real life.
Sometimes, functional isn’t just a buzzword; this is one such occasion and the Reebok Vipr really is an item that will improve your functionality.
Bosu balance board
Picture a swiss ball, cut in half and turned upside down then glued to a circular disc shaped surface.
That’s a Bosu! – What’s it good for? Well, if you imagine standing on ground that isn’t stable and trying to perform exercises, then it probably won't take you long to realize your balancing abilities will be called into action.
This is precisely why the Bosu is good, especially for athletes who need to develop their proprioceptive (mind to body connection) abilities and stability on unstable surfaces.
If you fall into that category, it’s worth using.
Kettlebells
No fitness centre or ladies only gym will ever be without kettlebells! Similar to Vipr’s in their concept, kettlebells are great for challenging the body in unorthodox ways that a simple dumbbell or barbell wouldn’t be able to.
As you perform exercises with a kettlebell, you’ll find that the weight moves along with your body, thus challenging the stabilising muscles as they move to assist the main groups being targeted.
This is certainly the case for traditional resistance exercises when applied with a kettlebell, but other movements like the famed kettlebell front swing simply target almost every muscle in the body for sustained periods and are fantastic for fitness gains as well as muscle toning.
Barbells and dumbbells
Watched a bodypump class? Then you will have seen class attendees loading up their barbells with weights.
Hang on a minute, this isn’t an unoriginal heading. You might be thinking “well, yeah…” but let me ask you this – when was the last time you saw a personal trainer using either of these traditional items in a traditional manner?
Sure, they’ll probably perform standard bench presses and squats, but it’s a guarantee that tradition will swiftly be broken and you’ll bear witness to some of the most inventive, effective and clever exercises you’ve ever seen at the hands of a barbell wielding personal trainer.
They’re great at “tinkering” and manipulating existing exercises in such a way that they are either more effective, or target a slightly different aspect of a target muscle group.
Sometimes, the exercises they perform are simply off the wall but still highly effective. When you see one of these exercises, wait for them to finish with their client and ask them what it’s for, the answer may surprise you and stop you thinking it’s either a waste of time or “mad” as many people do.
There’s almost always a good reason for unorthodox exercises…not always, but usually.
Plyometric boxes
Whether you train in a ladies only gym, or a usual fitness centre you have probably seen Plyo boxes. These are boxes used as platforms for plyometric exercise, such as box jumps or depth jumps.
Commercial versions come in a variety of heights for different ability levels.
Dubai personal trainers love plyo boxes due to their versatility. Box jumps are one of the main exercises in plyometric training or jump training. Not only do you burn a lot of calories through the explosive movements, you also work on endurance, strength, and coordination.
At the same time, you train your body's stability and mobility. Plyo boxes are also commonly home-constructed out of plywood due to cost efficiency, ease of construction, and versatility.
Battle Ropes
The battle ropes are a seriously fun yet awesome way to work out! Battle ropes are a useful exercise tool for those looking to lose weight, gain muscle mass, tone their existing muscles, or train imbalances and endurance.
They're best used as part of an existing programme for optimum results in each of these areas. An effective, unique and powerful way to fight belly fat is by using this battle rope workout. Battle ropes have been around for quite some time now in the fitness world and they are not going anywhere.
If you do battle rope exercises the correct way you should be out of breath and sweating within 25 seconds.
These are just six examples of equipment that personal trainers love to use, there are countless more out there and some seriously innovative equipment you’re yet to explore; remember that every action within a gym environment is undertaken with a specific purpose in mind, and it’s always a good idea to explore that purpose. It might just be the key needed to unlock the next phase in your own development!
