Keeping fit is important for everyone’s health and it is getting harder to stay fit these days. Hitting the gym has recently become a must-do for most people, and for very valid reasons. Those who attend gym sessions are usually left to their own devices, in the literal sense of that phrase. Whichever machine you use for your workout is left to your own discretion, and more often than not, people show a tendency to disregard the elliptical trainer. Little do they know how good a workout machine the elliptical trainer is!
An elliptical trainer is an exercise machine that mimics the motion of human beings, the only difference being that this is a stationary machine. It simulates walking, running or even stair climbing. It can be classified in the same category as a treadmill or staircase builder as far as its working is concerned, although there are certain aspects that make the elliptical trainer stand out. For one thing, while using the elliptical trainer, there is less pressure exerted on joints, which makes this machine ideal for most people, especially those who have suffered exercise injuries. Additionally, the intensity of a workout is left to the user to decide. The machines can be powered by either the user’s motion or electrically powered.
How Do You Use An Elliptical Trainer?
Wondering how to use an elliptical trainer? When one is using an elliptical trainer, they stand on the machine in an upright position, with knees, hips and ankles aligned so that body weight is evenly distributed between heels and the balls of the feet. Then with hands on the handrails, they start striding forward and backwards, according to their preference. The good thing with this machine is the fact that you can have reverse motion, which is an extremely important and rare exercise.
What Are The Benefits Of Using An Elliptical Trainer?
There are numerous benefits of using an elliptical trainer, which is why the machine warrants your attention the next time you enter the gym. For one thing, there is the very obvious benefit of burning calories, and this is directly proportional to the length of your strides. You may be surprised to learn that you can achieve the same result with the elliptical trainer as with the treadmill, but the elliptical machine is a tad better because of the reduced impact on your joints.Additionally, because it is up to you to decide the intensity of exercise you want with the machine, you can choose a slower pace of exercise for less fatigue. Simply put, you do not have to over exert yourself with this machine, although the option to do so is always open.
Conclusion
The next time you hit the gym, take a long hard look at the elliptical trainer before you pass over it. It could be that perfect workout machine you have been looking for, so just try it out.