The Best (Underutilised) Gym Kit
- Discover some gym gems
- Quicker results
In my time working in gyms, I have seen a plethora of equipment come and go. Obviously the standard fare equipment like machines and barbells will stand the test of time because, fundamentally, getting stronger is lifting things on the same plane over a period of time.
On the other hand, what should you do if agility and speed are your goals? Well, there are plenty of good bits of equipment to be used.
Whilst there are a lot of gimmicks in fitness, particularly at this time of year, there are also many fantastic pieces of equipment to get results.
TRX
it is often said that body weight training is the most difficult type of training to perform. In this regard, TRX is a fantastic body weight suspension system that can be adapted for even home workouts.
The fact that it incorporates the suspension element means that the difficulty can be intensified or decreased really by a change in the body position.
I would advocate seeking a fitness professional for a full induction, as these movements can be challenging and are particularly varied depending on your goals.
Personally, I studied the TRX at the Aberdeen Sports Village, which is a fantastic facility for free weight exercises (especially trackside). Indeed it is the only fitness facility that I have worked at that has the capacity for full TRX classes.
This is certainly my favourite piece of fitness equipment because of the diversity that it encompasses. This would be a staple of a beginners fitness personal training plan with RYPT due to the instant feedback that the client receives and being to adjust swiftly.
Whether beginner or gym veteran this kit will challenge and change you.
ViPR
The ViPR is a piece of equipment that has taken off with sports teams due to the agility and conditioning work that you can achieve with one of these. Individually, these are very expensive so would be something that would be suited to gym workouts.
The easiest way to describe this piece of equipment would be almost like using a hollow log with handles to perform exercises on multiple planes. The fact that you're able to incorporate both strength and agility is very rare in fitness.
I would advocate starting with a lighter weight in order to get the movements correct because feet work needs to be impeccable before you can progress on to the heavier ones.
Again, an induction certainly helps and not every gym will have these.
Bosu ball
If you have ever seen a professional footballer recovering from an ankle injury, chances are you have seen them use one of these. These semicircular under inflated balls are used primarily for stability and core exercises.
Essentially, the goal here is not to add weight (unlike most gym exercises) but to focus on stabilisation. Therefore, whether it's keeping your upper body still as you plank or balance as your do one-legged squats, it's about technique.
Once your have perfected the technique aspect then there are so many possibilities to advance the difficulty.
Another great piece of equipment if you know what you're doing and are not afraid of a challenge. RYPT is about sustainability, moderation, enjoyment: this comes from educating you and ensuring that you are proficient with every movement.
The RYPT app has a promotion on, if you wish to learn more then just contact me on the details below!
Ross
Owner RYPT.
Sign up for free blogs:
Read about the RYPT app:
