Thursday, August 14, 2014

Reclaim the Strength of Your Youth with Outdoor Gym Fitness Playgrounds


Do you remember when you were little and you could cross a set of monkey bars in seconds or lift yourself up and over those bars with little to no effort? Because of active play and useful muscle conditioning, our bodies maximized our strength, making it easy to run and play and not even think about how strong we were. As we get older, we use less active play and more gym time to try to replicate that same strength. While it works to make us strong and keep us healthy, it's not the same type of strength you get from playing outdoors. With outdoor jungle gym fitness, you get to recreate your playground days with functional strength training that works different muscle groups and increases the level of enjoyment you get from a workout.

Jungle Gym Fitness Is Fast Paced

One thing that kept you conditioned as a child was the fast pace in which you used your muscles when playing. Outdoor jungle gym fitness routines can utilize that same speed, and you'll find that you tire more quickly when working outdoors. Instead of doing slow reps and stretches, you'll be moving quickly along the monkey bars, trying to get to the top of the rope climb before someone else, engaging in fast paced dips, and trying to beat your record for plyo jumps. This type of workout is growing in popularity as more adults want to reclaim the strength of their youth and love working outdoors during the warmer months. In fact, you may find this workout so intense you can't wait until you're back indoors during the winter.

Jungle Gym Fitness Classes

Some health clubs and gyms are installing outdoor jungle gym fitness stations for members to use independently, while others are designing classes around the equipment. Taking a jungle gym class is fun because it engages your body and allows you to compare your current fitness level with those around you. Just like you used to compete with your friends for going across the monkey bars fastest or swinging the highest, you'll compete with your classmates and improve your fitness level at the same time.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Tips for Maximizing Space in Your Home Gym


Whether you have an entire room in your home dedicated to a gym setup, or are trying to fit some gym equipment into your den or basement, there are ways to maximize space and insure you invest in the right equipment that will get the job done. When planning a home gym, space should be your first priority. While it may seem that you should choose the equipment that you want first and then figure out where to put it, you should actually do the opposite.

Create a Plan

Just like an architect draws up a blueprint for a home, you should do the same for your home gym. Create a rough draft of the space you have available and then figure out what machines fit best and how you can best maximize the space. Wall mounted fitness equipment can be a lifesaver in a small space, especially if it offers multiple uses. Take snapshots of the room and use it as a visual aid to see if rearranging furniture will give you more space.

Maximize Your Wall Space

In many homes, the walls aren't utilized to full capacity. When you're serious about working out and want to have a dedicated space in your home, consider all of the options you have for using your walls. Besides wall mounted fitness equipment, consider using your wall space for storage. You can use shelves, cubes, or even racks on your walls to hold small weights, resistance bands, balls, and other items that aren't too heavy and will stack or sit solidly on a shelf or within a cube. The more storage space you have for smaller workout items, the more varied your workout will be at home.

Look for Equipment that Offers a Full Body Workout

The easiest way to maximize space is to purchase equipment that offers a full body workout. Yes, a treadmill is great and you will get your cardio in during the day, but does it offer everything you need? Can you substitute purchasing a treadmill with walking outdoors? Wall mounted fitness equipment often has all you need to get a full body conditioning and strength workout, while providing a level of cardio at the same time. Because cardio is easier to achieve without lots of equipment, focus on filling your home gym with strength equipment and you'll find that ideas for cardio routines fall in line with your strength workouts.