Cardiovascular Fitness
Cardiovascular Fitness
Cardiovascular fitness through exercise is key to a healthy heart and avoidance of high blood pressure or hypertension. Many exercise machines have electronic training and fitness programs that enable you to plan and control the pace of your workout and provide feedback on your level of achievement. For a fitness program that suits your needs see our workout advice page.
Treadmill Workouts
A good treadmill running workout is a solid way to get good, honest aerobic exercise as you are carrying your own body weight and can set your own pace easily. It's a very efficient way to lose body fat and, since it's a weight-bearing activity, it has musculo-skeletal benefits as well. For the manufacturers information on our treadmills see the Precor web site; alternative manufacturers include: True, Sears, Pacemaster, Trotter and Pro-form. The best treadmill for an individual will depend on budget, electric or manual, and type of workout you would like to do.
Recumbent Exercise Bikes
Recumbent exercise bikes have an ergonomic design to provide lower back lumbar support. The recumbent position allows you to pedal without back fatigue and to exercise a greater range of muscles than traditional exercise bike machines. The low layout enables the user to easily mount and dismount. For the manufacturers information on our machines see the Cybex web site, but you may also consider Schwinn and True Fitness.
Stair Steppers
Stair steppers provide cardiovascular and aerobic exercise by simulating a stair climing motion, often with programmable workout programs to simulate a steeper or lesse incline. The upright, rail-less configuration of many stepper machines encourage an improved exercise posture for a lower-body workout that is hard to beat when it comes to repetitive exercise. See the Stair Master web site for more information.
Stationary Bikes
Stationary bikes and exercise cycles have all the benefits of a good cycle ride but without the hassels. Modern equipment is exceptionally well designed and have preset programs and exercises, or you can design a timed course yourself. Exercise bikes are simple and safe cardiovascular exercise machines for aerobic workouts. Many people also use them as a way to warm up or warm down before and after their main workout.
Rowing Machines
Rowing machines work by simulating boat rowing. Instead of oars you pull on a bar that is linked by chain to resistance. Often they use air resistance to slow a wheel. Rowing machines are an excellent way to exercise more than just your legs! It is the most complete workout you can have on an exercise machine and uses upper body strength in shoulders and back to draw the "oar". Many machines come with computer graphics and rowing fitness programs. See the concept2 web site for more information about techniques, workouts and training programs.