Balance Workout Benefits and Total Gym Exercises for Seniors: Have you ever almost slipped by accident causing you to grab onto something or someone, sending your heart pumping into high gear? If so you know how it feels to experience a loss of balance just going about your daily life activities. As we age there…
Ski-Inspired Lower Body Workout on the Total Gym The winter season has arrived, snow has been falling, and it is time to hit the slopes! When it comes to the sport of skiing, the first thing I think about is having strong legs. Having spent some time out on the…
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Bathing suit season is here and it is time to tone up those legs, thighs, and glutes! Let’s get down to business and discuss how plyometric squats performed on the Total Gym can help get you there. Plyometrics, performed properly, are a great way to increase quad and hamstring strength, tone muscles and increase stamina to help get you through a busy day.
Let’s take a look at how plyometric squats can be performed at a beginner, intermediate and advanced level – keeping you challenged and motivated for weeks to come. Remember it is always good to set goals and keep challenging yourself as you progress to go to the next level while having some fun in the process!
Before you begin this workout, just a quick reminder on the importance of a proper warm-up. Make sure you take a few minutes to get your muscles warm and heart rate up before performing these exercises. This may involve a quick ten-minute walk/jog around the block or some basic squats with arm raises on the Total Gym.
Starting Position:
Make sure to disconnect the pulley from the glideboard and properly store it behind the tower. Now push the glideboard halfway up the rails, straddle the rails, and sit at the bottom edge facing away from the tower. Place your feet on the squat stand, positioned shoulder width apart. Slowly lie back, ensuring your head is fully supported by the glideboard and any hair/ponytails are tucked underneath your head to avoid it getting caught under the glideboard.
With your Total Gym set on a lower level you are going to release your feet off the glideboard as you move smoothly up and down the rails. As you go up and down the rails visualize your feet landing in the same place on the squat stand. Now change the position of your feet by pointing your toes out to the right and left. This will challenge different muscle groups muscles and tone those inner thighs. Keep things interesting by placing your feet and ankles together like you are skiing down a mountain. As you release both feet at the same time try and land softly on the squat stand by decelerating through the range of motion.
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Note: Over the past couple of weeks, we asked the top Total Gym trainers what their essential movements are to keep their bodies in shape and toned over the years. To check out the first post visit here Five Simple Moves in Five Minutes Hello Total Gym home workout users.…